My birthday bottle shared my birth year, but was technically younger than me. [Ed.: Unless one considers the maturation time in the barrel to be the gestation period-- Blue Text, stop being a party pooper. Blue Text, out.] So what was I to do?
I had to find a 34 year old. Just a dram though, since I'm not made out of Dalmore/Macallan/Diageo-Special-Release money. Thankfully, MoM (Master of Malt) had the solution. There are barrels and barrels of decent old Glen Grant being held and released by the indie bottlers. Usually they're comparatively affordable too. MoM just happened to be selling a dram.
This one was purchased blindly, as none of my usual whisky reviewers had weighed in on it. My Glen Grant experience had been limited, so why not start at the top?!
So I poured it alongside the Balblair 1978. And waited. And waited.
Waiting for, like, ever. |
They were very different. Glen Grant was less smooth, a little odder. But in a good way. I like the difficult ones (unless they reek of dead flesh and/or go by the name of Cutty Sark). This one was rougher around the edges, the spirit was still barking out through the long life cooped up in the hogshead.
From Master of Malt |
Distillery: Glen Grant
Ownership: Campari
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Age: 34 years (April 1975 - November 2009)
Maturation: refill hogshead
Region: Speyside
Alcohol by Volume: 50%
Chill filtered? No.
Caramel Coloring? No.
Limited Release: 278 bottles
The color is a little lighter than the Balblair; think Chardonnay with a little amber. The first thing that hits in the nose is light peat floating in a swimming pool. It's starts very spirity for an old malt, still holding onto some ethyl prickle. Cocoa powder follows. Then a chunk of toffee, vanilla extract, pear juice, and maple syrup. It gets more oaky with time and the maple syrup gradually picks up force. The palate begins with the same exact peat and pool combo. It's enjoyable to find a nose & palate that match up so closely. The tannins can be a little drying. Caramel sauce and vanilla follow, along with some ripe stone fruits soaked in brandy. It finishes dry and strong. Peat & cigarettes. Kristen caught some dulce de leche and flan in there. It's sweet, but fruity sweet.
Man, I love these old Highland/Speyside malts from back in the day when they did their own peated floor maltings. It's peat, not PEAT. The phenolics are seasoning, not the main dish.
While I don't promote smoking on this site, I can imagine that -- if you have the means -- this would match well with a smoke (tobacco, specifically) and a rich creamy dessert.
If you don't smoke, then this is good whenever, seriously. If you own an old whisky, drink it, share it, celebrate it. Our conscious lives are brief; delights are where we find them and where they find us.
Availability - UK & Europe only
Pricing - you'll have to do some snooping, but it should be in the $200 range
Rating - 93
If you make it up to Portland, I can point you towards a 34 year old Benriach that's only $125 and a 33 year old Glen Keith for $115. And as they were bottled in 2003 and 2005, respectively, you could argue that they're even older than that.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lawhiskeysociety.com/whiskey/1021/Benriach-1968-Duncan-Taylor
http://www.whiskyfun.com/archivedecember05-1.html#141205 (the Duncan Taylor)
Wow, those are incredible prices! Especially since the Lagavulin TWELVE will be priced about the same. Looks like you guys get more Duncan Taylors than we do in LA. And, yup, we're still planning a Portland trip; I'll give you a heads-up before it starts. Thanks!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Michael! Some very cool and old drammage to celebrate. I respect that highly. TWE (and a bunch of other high end Brit / Scot merchants) have Glen Grants going way back in time - including a killer 1964 OB that call to me (despite a 40%abv.).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Josh! I've been eyeing a few older Glen Grants too. Comparably well-priced, especially the G&Ms, Berry Bros, and DL bottlings. We all must plan for future birthdays...
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