So three months ago it was my birthday. Each year I typically do a write up where I go out and try something legendary, and then four more things. Well, this year was a bit different.
First off, I decided to hit up Allen’s, what with some people I know writing reviews from there. Second of all, I happened to find a date when they were having their annual Steak Festival and we all got excited and killed more cows than a leather factory with a blood fetish.
But you’re not here to hear about a 45-day ribeye that tasted like heaven and butter. No, you’re here to talk about Scotch. Because Allen’s is one of those locations you show up for the whisky list.
So to start off my birthday right, I picked out Glenlivet 28 1968 Signatory Vintage. Why? Well simply I’ve not had enough 1960s Scotch, and I keep having people mention it as good. Also, I ask the question: What was Glenlivet like in the 1960s? We’ve seen some distilleries change over the years, either in subtle or not-so-subtle ways.
Also, I personally hate my own nostalgia glasses, wasn’t alive in the 1960s, and therefore am the perfect person to call out a Scotch that may just be old.
Note, while I suck my own dick in that last sentence, I’m not perfect. I do enjoy cask strength Glenlivet quite a bit, feeling the standard releases are the equivalent of putting mittens on a tiger, so perhaps I’ll be biased.
It was my birthday, after all. Let’s see, shall we?
Price: No longer available
Region: Speyside
Vintage: 23.2.68
Bottled: 5.12.96
Cask: 1578
Total amount of bottles: 245
Abv: 49.1%
Colour: 2.5Y 8/10
Nose: Daisies, lime zest, mineral, caramel, smoke
Really floral. So it’s Glenlivet. All clear folks, we’re done here!
Wait, I did that joke recently, we can’t stop now!
More earthy, more on the earth side of floral, but still light. There’s some of that “Is it smoke, is it Heather?” kinda thing. Nice caramel. Bit light.
Taste: Mineral, smoke, caramel, orange zest (after water is added) creme brulee, lemon juice
Alright, bit different here. More of that earth dominant note going on. This is very much a nerd dram. It’s not something that other, non-whisky nerds (aka people with other hobbies) loved.
Water is your friend here. Big caramel, eggy, and lemon notes pop out with that. It takes to the water really well, thus being the main difference with current Glenlivet (which personally I find takes water well but it’s not totally needed). So that’s pretty neat.
Finish: Lime zest, tons of brine, caramel, floral, After Eight chocolate mints
Very brine forward at the end. Lots of salt, which helps with the different aspects. Works well with the chocolate, mint, some of the acidity, and some of the floral. However, I can’t help but feel it’s a bit basic, like a female dog which I hear is not a great thing from the kids.
Don’t know why the kids are putting down simpler dogs, but that’s the kids for you.
Conclusion: Certainly different from Glenlivet, but not as interesting as what I was hoping for. I was hoping for something out in left field or really different or up there with current cask strength Glenlivet. Instead we got this big mineral forward, fruity, acidic dram.
Don’t get me wrong: This is a quality dram. Even people who weren’t loving the flavour combination still noted there were aspects they enjoyed.
As for myself? The taste was the big fun slide for me. That playful citrus aspect really put in the work. I wouldn’t say “go buy a bottle” but I would recommend people try this out. All that comes from the past, like an unexploded mine, is automatically a good thing.
That steak though? To kill for.
83/100
Scotch review #1101, Speyside review #311, Whisky review #1706
tomoderawhisky.ca 
Reblogged this on Toronto Whisky Society.
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