Glenlivet 1964 commercial sample George & John Gordon Smith

From an old commercial sample from George & John Gordon Smith, that is, the company of the founder of The Glenlivet and his son. It was John who famously took legal action forcing nearby distilleries to cease using The Glenlivet name. This one is rather laconic and entirely elusive. Is this its true self or a ghost of its former? Hard to say. Cold paraffin, glass, acerbic green fruit and scraped pith. On the palate surprisingly strident with clear oils, crushed mint, cinchona and cold ginger broth. Honestly rather raw and unrefined but always worth a pour. 85 pts