Glenlivet ‘Over 10 years old’ Mayor, Sworder & Co. vs Glenlivet 20 yo 1965 Intertrade 56.9%
The Malt Affair concluded its third iteration yesterday. What a turn out and what a great bunch of people to call friends! The smiles on faces and the laughter across the crowd makes me glad there is a real groundswell of enthusiasts who are happy to spend an afternoon perusing all manner of independent bottles and exploring past vintages of whisky. You know there’s a real village vibe going when you can pop from stand to stand and randomly fill in for anyone busy.
The Glenlivet ‘Over 10 years old’ Mayor, Sworder & Co. 75 proof ~ 1970s
Old sort of sherry a little dusty with old hardened honey and half stubs of candles long forgotten in drawers. A wafting rancio fruitiness akin to leather smeared with overripe cherries, Touches of dried basil and lovage and other savoury herbs as it turns to meaty charred ends and gristle. It is this dry and meaty side that shows most on the tongue, with a sulphurous gristle and burnt pans. A real stroppy blackstrap and jam reduction as well as charred wood, burnt earth and leather. Not sure it stood up to time well but not quite on its last legs either.
Glenlivet 20 yo 1965 Intertrade 56.9%
Classic old speysider profile, powerful with empty wax tins, old Singer oil, dried bark strips, clean clayey earth by the shovel, hints of camphor, ambrette and desiccated oak rolled up into a mellow and round ball of flavour without harsh edges. Not very outspoken though. On the tongue phenolic touches like bits of char and hot asphalt shows. Quite a pepper stew kick. Wet roots, dirty flints and grimey oily tools. Hay and dry earth underfoot. And litres of oak bark tea (a traditional remedy, you need only try it once) with its bitter tannic sting. Something to use when somebody says Speysiders are all soft sweet whiskies?
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