Glenlivet 8 yo Gordon & Macphail 100 proof vs Glen Calder 100 proof / 57% ‘From The Glenlivet District’

Glenlivet 8 yo Gordon & Macphail 100 proof
There are many iterations of this particular label, and in varying shades of red. From what I can tell this appears to be an earlier one with less sherry, but on the nose, it does blaze warmly with honeyed baklava and sweet spices on hot stoves. Golden hues of buttery baked apples, brown sugar, maple, and clean leather fill the glass, borne on a strong frame of a muscular malt and cedar, pine and other oiled and aromatically rich woods. Great beginnings. Unfortunately it’s all a little simple and on the tongue, its rambunctious and burning youth clearly wants further subtlety and finesse. Still a great way to end the evening though. 88 pts

Glen Calder 100 proof / 57% ‘From The Glenlivet District’

So 80s bottling, because both metric and imperial are used on a UK bottling. Here its quite the other way. Resinous wood and thick oils slosh about in the nose, sweetened by plum skins and a pinch of clove. Again its rather young and lacking subtlety but the tongue brings a surprise, better development with buttery pastry and berry compote, with a side of savoury herb sauce. Plenty of bitter spices like licorice and menthol and shiso finish with an afterburn. This one wants to go in several directions, though it has its old style charms down pat. 88 pts