Glenlivet 1978

31 year old Speyside 53.9% % vol

1 of only 163 bottles from cask no. 13515

This example of RLS’s ‘King o’Drinks’ is a-typical in some respects, but classic in others. It has a gorgeous copper-gold colour, derived from an ex-bourbon hogshead, and heavy beading. The first impression is of fruit salad with maraschino cherries; behind this a soft pastry base, then slightly burnt chocolate brownie, then (curiously) sphagnum moss and lint bandages. After a while it settles to coconut and almonds, the former coming through in the taste at full strength. Water changes it again, towards barley sugar and citric boiled sweets, with a waxy background. The texture is very smooth; the taste not as sweet as expected, some salt but still dominated by coconut. Appetising and fresh for its years, with treacle toffee in the development.

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