Glenlivet 70 Year Old / 1940 / Release 2
We got some exciting news this week that Gordon & MacPhail will be releasing the remainder of the 100 bottles of the Glenlivet 70 Years Old, the world’s joint oldest single malt Scotch whisky. Its been released to the UK and international market, giving collectors and consumers a final chance to own a piece of Scotland’s liquid history.
The first batch of the Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was released in March 2011, following an exclusive event at Edinburgh Castle. The release was met with international acclaim from whisky enthusiasts and the world press. All 100 large decanters quickly sold out. This, the second and final release from this cask is expected to create similar excitement.
Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt, and bottled at cask strength, 45.9% ABV. It is the second in a series of extremely rare malt whiskies to be released by Gordon & MacPhail under its Generations brand. Cask 339 was filled at Glenlivet Distillery on 3rd February 1940, to the instruction of John Urquhart, grandfather and great-grandfather of Gordon & MacPhail’s current owners.
Each bottle is beautifully presented in a tear-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter with an elegant British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter nestles in a Sterling silver base and is framed in a handmade box, crafted in Scotland using Scottish Yew.
The first batch of the Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was released in March 2011, following an exclusive event at Edinburgh Castle. The release was met with international acclaim from whisky enthusiasts and the world press. All 100 large decanters quickly sold out. This, the second and final release from this cask is expected to create similar excitement.
Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt, and bottled at cask strength, 45.9% ABV. It is the second in a series of extremely rare malt whiskies to be released by Gordon & MacPhail under its Generations brand. Cask 339 was filled at Glenlivet Distillery on 3rd February 1940, to the instruction of John Urquhart, grandfather and great-grandfather of Gordon & MacPhail’s current owners.
Each bottle is beautifully presented in a tear-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter with an elegant British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter nestles in a Sterling silver base and is framed in a handmade box, crafted in Scotland using Scottish Yew.
World-renowned whisky expert, Charles Maclean, said: “The Glenlivet 1940 comes from a distillery which has been the benchmark against which other malts have been measured since the 1820s. Such a whisky will never be seen again. It is incredibly rare, and therefore highly collectable. But, more importantly, it is also celestial on the palate.”
Glenlivet 70 Year Old / 1940 / Release 2 Tasting Note: By Charles MacLean
Appearance: Deep amber, with tawny lights.
Aroma: A mild nose-feel. The first aroma is of an old cocktail cabinet, with Sherry notes predominating; polished wood, soft leather and a trace of candle wax. Behind this are fruity notes, lightly baked apples (even Tarte Tatin), but also fresh orange juice, and just a thread of smoke or ash in the distance. Adding a drop of water suppresses the fruity notes and slightly enhances the sweetness (now tablet) and smokiness.
Taste: A waxy, teeth-coating mouthfeel; smooth and voluptuous. The taste is sweetish to start, then savoury, with a trace of salt – might this be a rare example of ‘umami’ in whisky, the elusive fifth primary taste? The finish is long, with a faint smokiness in the aftertaste. Drinks well at natural strength. With a drop of water the flavours remain intact.
Development: Fades gracefully towards vanilla fudge and sanded wood.
Comment: A stupendous whisky! Although it resonates with aged character – and, indeed, characteristics from another era – it retains vitality, both on the nose and on the palate.
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