Pair 'a Mhors, or Two Glen Mhors

Yes, I know it's pronounced "Vor", you party poopers.

These two samples of Glen Mhor were obtained from Los Angeles Scotch Club events several years ago., and they've been staring up at me from the stash ever since. So, in continuing honor of Mathilda's seventh birthday the whiskies are being consumed.

I didn't like my sample photos, so I cobbled the above image from
these two Whiskybase sites:
here and here.

Glen Mhor 1965-1997 Gordon & MacPhail, 40%abv

The nose starts with whole wheat bread and Sambuca. Toffee and sesame oil follow next, then hints of smoke and mothballs. With time, the anise note switches to Good 'n Plenty candies .

Massive oaky bitterness weighs upon the entire palate. Somewhere in the middle there' s a spicy cigar's tobacco leaf wrapper. Hints of anise, eucalyptus and fig stay far beneath.

The small notes of cigar wrapper, eucalyptus and fig linger in to the finish, but tannins remain on top, and a mild sweetness sits in the middle.

This whisky was much darker than the other, which I thought was due to sherry casks or e150a. But perhaps it's from all that damned oak. Usually I criticize under-baked whiskies, but this one is over-baked to the point that it reminds me of Diageo's Orphan Barrel bourbons. Luckily, this one's intriguing nose and slight figginess lift it above, say, Forged Oak.

RATING - 80

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Glen Mhor 28 year old 1976 Rare Malts, 51.9%abv

Candy shop, Sauvignon blanc, grilled pears and apple cider fill the nose, with softer notes of citrussy honey and saltwater taffy peeking out from the background.

Heather, stony minerals and lime lead the crisp palate. Subtle notes of croissant(!) and chile oil develop with time. Zero sweetness here.

It finishes with minerals, chile oil, flower petals and lime. Maybe a hint of smoke.

This is what happens when the casks don't overpower the spirit. It's bright but lean, reading like a cousin of yesterday's Littlemill, which is good company to keep. This Rare Malts series continues to live up to its reputation. I really did get into whisky a couple years too late.

RATING - 88

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This illustrates how cask selection and warehouse management, rather than distillery "style", can determine a whisky's characteristics. In this case, it's difficult to believe these two whiskies came from the same distillery. One is all tannins and tobacco, while the other is crisply citrus and minerals. I'll always favor the latter.