Speyside 70s Giants

Longmorn 40 years old, vintage 1970, bottled at 52,9 % abv by Alambic Classique

First things first: Cask # 10402 was an oloroso sherry cask and it yielded 142 bottles of this deep bronze-golden nectar. Distilled on the second day of 1970, on 2 January, and bottled on 6 April 2010. Bottled in the Rare & Old series by Alambic.

Upon Sipping: It does not get more classic than this with lots of dunnage warehouse, herbs and spices from the orient, cigars from the Dominican Republic, old books from an infrequently visited library and freshly polished antique furniture. I hope this paints a picture. What is missing in comparison with this legendary Longmorn, one of our first “long pours”, is an overly fruity character. Of course, this Longmorn 1970 matured twice as long, so that explains that we pick up much more wood notes. Let’s see how that translates to the palate. Well, the attack is rather sweet and supple, which surprises me. This Longmorn stood up extremely well to four decades in an oloroso cask. There are beautiful bitter notes, but it does not go over the top. There might be even some strawberry slipping through the cracks here. Some alcohol hotness too. This Longmorn is far from tired. With just a little drop of water, the smell gets a more dusty vibe, while the palate shows slightly more fruit, but the best practice is to not dilute this shining jewel. 

Word to the Wise: Mesmerizing classic sherried Speyside single malt whisky. Longmorn from the (early) 1970s is something otherworldly. Same score as the Spinola. 

Score: 93 points

Glen Keith 33 years old, vintage 1971, bottled at 50,8 % abv by Duncan Taylor

First things first: Glen Keith is a younger distillery opened in 1957 by Chivas. In 1970, the first gas-fuelled still was installed. This Glen Keith was distilled in December 1971 and aged for 33 years in cask # 8066 (just sherry, no specifics mentioned). The cask yielded 531 bottles in January 2005. Bottled in the Rare Auld series by Duncan Taylor. 

Upon Sipping: Almost identical in colour compared to the Longmorn. If at all possible, this seems even more powerful on the nose. This Glen Keith also brings a basket full of red fruit to the party. I can easily copy some characteristics here, with all the dunnage warehouse, cigar and cigar smoke, and definitely some apple-cinnamon pancake, with lots of syrup. We are going to need some insulin after tasting this. The leather notes are tremendous. The taste is a tad more simple, but not less rewarding. Lots of coffee notes and strong hints of wood bitter. I wish some of the fruit had transported to the palate, but they are sorely missing. On the nose, this fruit becomes even more enthusiastic when you add a drop of water. If anything, this is a nosing whisky. The palate improves too with a bit more playfulness, but a dry and sometimes floral finish remains. 

Word to the Wise: Not a totally flawless sherry monster, but enough to tick the 90 points box. 

Score: 90 points.

Glen Grant 40 years old, vintage 1972, bottled at 54,8 % abv by Finest Whisky 

First things first: The to me unknown bottler Finest Whisky released only 42 bottles of this 1972 distilled Glen Grant, that was bottled in 2013 from a sherry cask. Released in an Old Master Painter series as number 5. 

Upon Sipping: In general, I loved the Glen Grant samples I could taste from this vintage, so high hopes for this one too. When sticking the nose in the glass, you realize this is Champions League level maturation. Blooming roses, lots of red fruits, cinnamon, honey, Ceylon tea leaves. Slight frame of mint around this experience. Incredibly complex but stoic about it. As if Glen Grant needs to prove its reputation for being able to stand up against long term cask influence. Nah! Easy peasy. But the years start to count as soon as you take a sip. Like licking your wooden floor after you polished it, but in a pleasant way. Truth be told, there is not much else involved here besides wooded notes, but they are all very balanced and expressive. You will find notes in the dark coffee and spicy chocolate corner now, fuelled by a still powerful abv. A very stately dram, and lively because it does not turn dry on the finish. With water, more red fruit blooms open, but this Glen Grant keeps on delivering a royal attitude.   

Word to the Wise: Ladies and gentlemen, His Majesty, Glen Grant. This one ticks all the boxes and comes close to perfection. I can imagine some people would judge this Speysider over the top, but I think it is a balancing act that is performed with great skill. This Glen Grant stands tall.
Score: 93 points.

Speyside Region 43 years old, vintage 1973, bottled at 47,4 % abv by The Whisky Agency

First things first: Bottled for The Whisky Exchange, undisclosed malt from one butt producing 568 bottles of this very old whisky. Not a single malt, apparently, but a product from a vatting cask (which seems logical considering the outturn). TWE say themselves: “This was bottled from a butt of blended malt with components from across the Speyside region.” Bottlings from blending stocks have become a more regular thing over the years, keep in mind that many secretive Highland Park and Macallan come from Edrington blending stock too. 

Upon Sipping: This is supposed to come exclusively from the Speyside region. The guessing game can begin, eh? In any case, it is not every day we drink 43 year old whisky! Nosing this, I mostly pick up a bunch of Indian spices. There are hints of tropical fruits that have trouble breaking through a covering layer of these said spices. Some faint hints of glue even makes me think someone dropped a cask of single grain in this too. After the heavy hitting sherry monsters of today, we have a big contrast in this glass. On the tongue, there is a beautiful honeyed, waxy note waiting for us, with lots of yellow fruit, vanilla and papaya. Incredibly oily and mouth filling with lots of creamy jelly candy. It is a funny, bright and sunny malt whisky. With a gentle splash of water we get some more wooded notes, like sandalwood, or maybe some bamboo. Whiffs of lemon appear. The least enticing part of this whisky is the nose, which is not all that expressive. The taste makes up for it with a bright and fruity character, and this delightful waxiness at the end of it, which could pass for a Clynelish note if we did not know for sure we are in Speyside.