Sheep Dip 8 Year Old 1L (1980s Edition)
100cl / 43%
£99.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
Tasting Notes
Fresh orchard fruit with honeyed malt and a hint of floral spice.
Light and smooth with notes of toffee, vanilla fudge, and gentle citrus.
Medium length with soft oak, nutmeg, and a touch of barley sugar.
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Cult 1980s 8-year-old Sheep Dip in the rarer 1-litre format, blended from multiple single malts and aimed at quality drinkers of the era.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Produced for George Morton Ltd / later Ian Macleod Distillers / Scotland |
| Category | Blended malt (then “vatted malt”) Scotch whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 8 Years Old / Bottled 1980s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV (typical) / 1L |
| Cask / Treatment | Marriage of multiple single malts (16 was often quoted for Sheep Dip of the era); standard oak maturation; exact recipe not stated by the producer |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (core-ish bottling but 1L is the less common size) |
| Intended channel | UK and export retail, bar/trade in 1L |
| Packaging | Squat/shouldered Sheep Dip bottle with pastoral/farming label, 1-litre stated |
| Notes on discrepancies | Must be distinguished from later NAS Sheep Dip and from 70cl 8yo 1980s bottles; 1L was often bar/travel oriented |
Historical Context
Sheep Dip was one of the best-known “vatted malts” of the 1980s because it used a cheeky name and genuinely good malt content. The classic story was a blend of many single malts drawn from across Scotland, designed to drink like a richly flavoured Highland/Speyside whisky. Most people saw it in 70cl, 8-year-old form. The 1-litre edition follows the same concept but in a larger format suited to bars, hospitality or export. Because many 1L bottles from that time were consumed, intact examples now tend to appear in vintage auctions and are of interest to people collecting 1980s malt-led blends.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
Documented variants
-
Sheep Dip 8 Year Old, 40%, 70cl, 1980s.
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Sheep Dip 8 Year Old, 40%, 1L, 1980s (this entry).
-
Later Sheep Dip NAS (different label, different era).
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40% | 1L | 1980s bar/export | Pastoral Sheep Dip label, 1 Litre stated | Very good (rarer size) |
| 40% | 70cl | 1980s UK retail | Same label, smaller bottle | Core/most known |
| 40% | 70cl / NAS | 1990s+ | Modernised label | Below the 1980s 8yo for collectors |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
-
Label must say Sheep Dip and 8 Years Old.
-
Volume must be 1 Litre / 100cl.
-
1980s label style: farming/veterinary allusion, cream/brown tones.
-
Check fill level: older 1L bottles sometimes sit a little lower.
-
Screw cap/capsule should be intact.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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8 Years Old is a legal age statement.
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“Vatted malt”/“pure malt” of the 1980s = “blended malt” today.
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Colouring/chill filtration were common; no claims should be made.
Liquid Profile (aligned to 1980s Sheep Dip descriptions)
-
Nose: Malty, honey, orange peel, gentle herbal note.
-
Palate: Rounded, sweet malt, soft spice, toffee, light fruit.
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Finish: Medium, malty, faint oak.
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With water: A small splash opens the citrus.
Sourcing
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Target: 1L, 8yo clearly printed, label clean, good fill.
-
Avoid: modern NAS Sheep Dip, unclear age, 70cl when buyer wants 1L.
-
Condition: older capsules and labels should be photographed clearly.
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Margin: buy toward the 60–80 GBP level, list toward 100–120 GBP.
