3 Glenlivets, one very old, like almost 40 in whisky-years, and two that's young but still old.

I have to say that I never made a relationship with Glenlivet, yes I'd call it relationship, as no man (or woman) tastes a whisky all the same. The whisky is the constant and the x is you (how clever). But I bring this up with this whisky as it holds the oldest license for distillation in Scotland, one year prior to the one of Fettercairn, yet its not riding a hype these days. More a middle of the road distillery, but perhaps these ones can prove why it used to be a force to be reckoned with on every level.


Glenlivet 38yo 1973-2011 47.5% The Whiskyman LSD

Yes, it's a reference to an old Beatles song. This cask made only 78 bottles, and considering the still pretty high %abv. it should be able to make some more, maybe there's some whisky left in the cask, or transferred to a smaller cask for finishing? Impressive stuff anyway. Golden color, smells heavy of gingerbread, rye and moss, needs some time to adjust. Lavender after a while, a perfumy old one, but in a good way. Needs some swirls, and why do people say that swirling whisky ain't right. Oxygen opens whisky up, more swirling, more oxygen. And for that matter, how can anyone say Richard Paterson ain't right??? Now, back to the story. Even a while later it is on the light and floral side. The taste is floral and honeyed, some vanilla, egg cream and balsamic vinegar. Needs water. With a small splash it hits some peppery and vanilla notes, classical bourbon maturation, although I'm not sure. But for 38 years I would've expected a bit more.

To be fair, this is not the best Glenlivet I've had: 5


Glenlivet 8yo 57% George & J.G. Smith's G&M

One of two from J.G. Smith's bottled by G&M. J.G. Smith's once owned the Glenlivet Distillery. This one holds a white cap, bottled somewhere in the 80's I would imagine. A flat bottle. Smells fresh, citrus, onions, glue, lime, green tea, light and fresh on the nose. This is a good one, I can feel it already. The taste is citrussy, lime and lemon, green grapes, good stuff. But this is old style, no vanilla or coriander or any other stuff that is to be found in recent bottlings, this is all on sour citrus and dried grass, hay, dried herbs, old but good. One that makes me think back on the days when whisky weren't as coordinated by casks as it is today.

It's far from perfect, but it's got that old style feeling: 5


Glenlivet 12yo 57% George & J.G. Smith's G&M

A much darker one, with a golden cap this time. Oh yes, more on the oaky side this time with black peppers, mashed carrots, vegetable stew, fennels, pickled cucumbers and overripe avocados. A vegetal malt whisky so far. The taste is oaky as h..., but nice, one of the better young ones at high strength from this distillery. I do like the ripe berries and the avocado, sort of fat grassiness that's in it. I believe water could be the answer in this one. Water makes it more rustic, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet chili, roasted pecan nuts, roasted almonds, sweet and nutty. Much better now. The aftertaste is again sweet almond cake and honey glazed nuts.

Give it water and it' the perfect after-meal whisky: 6



OK, I remember promising you some Benriach, well, next tasting is: Benriach Distillery