The 17 years back in time session part 2: 1991
In the blogpost of yesterday we went back 17 years in time to the year 2008. Today, we take another leap of 17 years and arrive in the year 1991. I know, that is a year that sounds to some of us as if it was yesterday. But go figure: George Bush was still President of the USA, having followed in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan. One year later he would be defeated by Bill Clinton. John Major had followed another iconic politician in England, as he was the Prime Minister after Margeret Tatcher. Boris Jetsin rose to power in Russia. Different times on this blue marble, that had just witnessed the collapse of communism but saw the Soviet Union grabbing at straws. Ukraine declared independence alongside lots of other former Soviet states. The war Desert Storm swept through the Middle East. In the USA we witness the race riots in Los Angeles. Sport fans saw Miguel Indurain win his first of five Tour de France competitions. The year ended on a terribly sad note with the death of Freddie Mercury, frontman of Queen. The world of whisky just left the tumultuous 1980s behind, but there were still some dark clouds overhead. With all this in mind, we move on to the samples of today.
Braes of Glenlivet 1991, 32 years old, bottled at 41,1 % by Murray McDavid
First things first: A spectacularly old Braes of Glenlivet bottled at 32 years of age after receiving a Margaux wine cask finish. It resulted in 690 bottles. Bottled in 2024 in the Mission Gold series.
Upon Sipping: For all the geeks lurking in the shadow: whisky from before 1994 is “Braes of Glenlivet”, after that the distillery was named Braeval and the output was named like that. You got to wonder about the original cask this was matured in. Who would put old malt in a wine cask? Whatever the reason, judging by the nose on this whisky, it elevated this Braes of Glenlivet to a more elegant level, way passed the stage of blend fodder. Charming wood notes, old books, some whiffs of chocolate, cherries… in short: a very rich nose! Taking a sip, the mouthfeel starts off very light and soft, but soon the dry tannins make an impact. Somehow, they also retreat again, making for a very fresh and juicy finish. The wine impact is mostly felt on the palate. With just a little water, some floral freshness emerges, but the taste disintegrates totally. Some roughness appears on the finish now.
Word to the Wise: Elegance is the key word to describe this Braes of Glenlivet. At the same time, it is clear that the bottler tried to mask a flaw by finishing this in a wine cask. It helped save the day, making for a fragile but rewarding experience.
Score: 84 points.
Glen Elgin 1991, 33 years old, bottled at 54,2 % abv by Signatory Vintage
First things first: Distilled on 6 June 1991 and bottled on 22 Augustus 2024 in the series carrying the name Symington’s Choice, referring of course to Andrew Symington of independent bottler Signatory Vintage. After no less than 33 years in a first fill oloroso sherry butt, cask # 4073 still resulted in an impressive 529 bottles.
Upon Sipping: This must be dangerous stuff for sherried whisky fetishist. Beautifully dark. As if you are opening an old wooden cabinet is a Scottish castle after three decades of it being closed. Furniture polish, dust, old cigars laying there for way too long. Dades, plums, herbal notes too. The sherry influence does all the talking, Glen Elgin providing the perfect template for it. Taking a sip, you get pulled back in time and almost taste the decades gone by on your tongue. The sherry made this Glen Elgin a tad dry, and there is nothing much beyond classic wood and chocolate notes, but the finish shows muscles. Now, if you add some water, the overall quality rises tremendously. The aroma releases the fruity notes now, mostly on cherries and rich plums. Some of the delicate fruitiness of Glen Elgin also comes out on the palate, but the finish is more dry now.
Word to the Wise: Perhaps just a little over the top, but very outspoken. This is the one malt to pour on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy with a good book or watching the children play boardgames. Contemplative whisky, overthinking the good things in life.
Score: 87 points.
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