Glen Elgin 1978

27 year old Speyside 47.5 % vol

1 of only 208 bottles from cask 4512

Another 'Top Class' malt, with a high reputation in the trade, but uncommon since it is in big demand, particularly from the White Horse and Walker blends. The distillery itself was the last to be built in the 19th century. This magnificent example of the make has been drawn from an American oak cask, and is amber in colour. The bouquet perfumes the room like a fine old wine: a bag of fondant sweets, fruit salad or rum-toft, plum skins, a trace of coconut. Then cigar boxes, sandalwood and polished leather, giving way to brittle toffee, barbers' shop (hair lacquer?) and a light antiseptic. A hugely complex and changing nose, which doesn't change much when you add water, although the toffee notes increase and the wood notes move towards chamoix leather. The flavour is beautifully balanced – no primary taste predominates; the mouth-feel is waxy, but the overall effect fresh as dentists’ mouthwash. A lingering finish. A malt that rewards long contemplation.

Bronze Medal winner at the Malt Maniacs 2005 Awards

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