Glen Garioch 1971 40 Year Old TWE Exclusive

Nose

Obviously mature: a lovely, dense, mix of light leather - a cobbler's store - dried apple and sage. Bold yet somehow subtle.

Palate

Robust and much earthier than the nose. Next comes a heavy floral note and a hint of smokiness. It builds towards the finish deepening all the time.

Finish

Light lavender notes and some smoke.

Comments

A fascinating, fluxing dram that hides its power under a charming exterior.

A wonderful blast of peat smoke gives way to fragrant summer orchard fruit. Pears and green apples tingle the tongue, before the delivery of robust Highland maltiness. Warm sweet cotton candy brings a creamy smooth and unforgettable end.

Nose

Gentle but also very complex. First there’s a discreet and slightly tropical fruitiness (passion fruit, grapefruit) mixed with fresh eucalyptus and a velvety, sooty smokiness. Quite some leather and wax. Wet leaves. A smooth and worthy 1971. Mouth: Not extremely punchy but quite boldly peated for a Glen Garioch (closer to Port Ellen than Brora for instance). Hints of mustard cress and bitter oranges, as well as some sourish oak juices that are a little too prominent maybe. Lapsang tea. A little austere although there are traces of sweeter fruits towards the end. Finish: Very long with plenty of sooty peat, liquorice and bitter oranges.With its relatively heavy peat, waxy nose and a slightly austere and mustardy palate, this comes really close to the late 1970’s – early 1980’s Brora profile in my opinion. You have to like this style and spend a lot of money though.

Score

91/100.

Nose

Gentle and delicate, but very complex, with wet wool, bandages, liniment and faint smoke. Develops some orangey notes, like Cointreau or tangerine skin, some grapefruit and delicate hints of incense, like a joss stick in another room. A thread of coalsmoke or soot winds its way through what is an altogether captivating aroma. Becomes more oaky like old furniture - an old medicine cabinet, in fact.

Palate

Fabulous clean oak, then a mouthwatering sweetness of tropical fruit (grapefruit, oranges, kiwi fruit and perhaps lychee). Then the bandagey aromas and wet wool. Develops a menthol note. Follows very closely to the nose, which is obviously a very good thing.

Finish

Oak and fruit with a wisp of smoke. Not immensely long, but fades beautifully.

Comment

At forty years of age, this legendary vintage can still come up with the goods. An truly elegant dram, balancing on a knife-edge to create a study of fruit, smoke and oak in the classic Highland tradition.