Glenlivet 80 12 months Outdated

So long as I can bear in mind, it has been modern in whisky to say casually important issues of longer aged whiskies, often alongside the traces of them being too previous, drained, woody and so forth.

Nonetheless, regardless of debates about pricing, it highlights that point is likely one of the foundational motivating components in most of our particular person perceptions of worth in high quality drinks. Time is one thing we can not purchase extra of, however we will expertise the cerebral weight of time captured in liquid type. There may be pleasure in consuming one thing with the information of how far again in historical past it was created, and what number of years it has taken to reach in our glass. The enjoyment of lovely flavours within the most interesting alcohols lies of their intricacy, and in being aware as we devour them, of simply how profoundly infinitesimal and complicated all of the cumulative forces will need to have been to create this remaining, scrumptious liquid. Even the technical flaws that include age usually type a part of the delicate charms and character of older drinks. There may be emotion and pathos in an excellent wine that’s lastly beginning its decline, or a whisky ever so barely too lengthy within the wooden. Equally, magnificence in nice drinks usually exists concurrently due to, and regardless of, nice age. Most of us who love nice drinks, search to own and devour them for these very pleasures.

Gordon & MacPhail truck

I discover it very cool that Gordon & MacPhail are in a position to launch Scottish single malt whiskies of this type of age. On a technical stage it is a boundary in Scotch whisky that’s all the time thrilling to push in opposition to and advance. As a follow it begins to have extra in widespread with very previous Cognacs, and certainly I can’t be stunned if they’re going to be capable to launch a 100 yr previous single malt throughout the subsequent couple of a long time with some cautious cask administration. The actual fact they nonetheless have casks of makes like Glen Grant from the early Fifties at ABVs within the excessive fifties would recommend as such.

Nonetheless, tasting extraordinarily previous whiskies like this may be difficult as a result of you have got to withstand the feelings they will stir and assessing them nearly operates on a distinct algorithm. I used to be struggling to assume what I might decide as a sparring accomplice for this session, however excited about the character of spirits at this age it appears becoming to do it alongside a equally very previous ‘age said’ Cognac. As we have usually noticed on Whiskyfun, totally different spirits at nice age can usually converge in type, so at present we’ll have in tandem the brand new 80yo Glenlivet alongside a really uncommon 75yo Cognac from Louis de Salignac.

Nonetheless, there’s additionally extra in the best way of scented unique hardwoods and their resins. Aged dried citrus peels, pu-ehr tea, dried flowers, tobaccos. It is extremely evidently an ‘previous’ single malt on the nostril, however blind you may need mentioned something from 40 to 60 years previous. So arguably it feels youthful than it’s. It evolves extra in direction of extraordinarily classical aromas of wormwood, honey and comfortable waxes. I additionally discover shoe leather-based, honeysuckle and previous mead. These natural and resinous features additionally trace at some peat affect that has most likely lengthy damaged down into these stunning wee sub-aromas. Certainly, a completely enchanting nostril that you may (and may) spend time with. Regardless of what I wrote within the intro, up to now I might say this whisky is stylistically moderately distinct from the Cognac. Mouth: fairly an exquisite arrival that when once more firmly reminds us of many different previous G&M bottlings, which in itself might be a paean to their cask coverage throughout these a long time. The wooden is current in fact, huge, spicy, clear and but nonetheless restrained sufficient to go away a lot respiration house for different traits. Myriad dried unique fruit flavours, recommendations of some very previous Fins Bois cognac, aniseed, dried figs, pollens, deeply advanced earthiness, comfortable peppery tones, petrichor and medicinal natural flavours. After fairly a while the sweetness on the palate turns into extraordinarily spectacular, very honeyed, resinous and unique. That you’d nonetheless have freshness and a way of assertiveness from the fruit after 80 years is moderately thoughts blowing. End: good size, delicately on tobaccos, dried leaves, flowers, herbs, pollens and gently bitter unique teas. A tad fragile however nonetheless stunning. Feedback: As I discussed above, it is extraordinarily onerous to evaluate such historical whiskies, not solely whereas retaining a way of neutrality, but additionally this nagging feeling that they don’t conform to regular evaluation parameters. What I might say is that this one retains wonderful ranges of freshness, complexity and steadiness, whereas additionally displaying good size and energy. It is simply that the very fact it will accomplish that after 80 years is simply completely astounding and genuinely thrilling; please always remember I’m at coronary heart, and 100% stay, a complete whisky geek! On a technical stage I believe it is a gorgeous whisky, if not into absolutely the stratosphere, however what’s most spectacular is what it tells us in regards to the ageing potential of nice single malts if executed appropriately.
SGP: 652 – 93 factors.

Now, in any case that, let’s rapidly get a second opinion. Upon tasting the Glenlivet 80yo, my accomplice Lucy says:

“It is fairly good, it is bought a little bit of a ‘darkish’ aftertaste. However it’s not so good as these different tropical fruity* ones I’ve tried.”

Typically it is good to be introduced again right down to earth and remind ourselves that being a whisky geek is steadily a bit ridiculous.

(*Lucy is a fan of 60s Bowmore)