Weekend Brief: Lazy Afternoons drifting through the Decades

Sometimes we need a moment to hit pause and kick back, to enjoy a few drams and just forget about the world for a little bit. The bottles below were from one such lazy afternoon; a chance to taste and share some whiskies while catching up after a few months between proper tasting sessions. These were not the only whiskies poured that afternoon, but they were the first ones and the only ones I collected notes on. My motivation to try capturing flavors and sensations only lasted a few drams before I was ready to power down and just enjoy the company without any fine investigation into the malts on hand.

Glenlivet 27 Year (1977), Scott’s Selection

NOTES: This freshly opened bottle offered up moving boxes and wooden crates— it smelled old, like an antique. Time to rest allowed honey and orange marmalade to arrive with old papers and paper packets of Sweet & Low in a diner. Medium-bodied on the palate, honey and peppery oak arrived with orange rind, ginger, and old moving boxes. Austere at times, it was more peppery and woody toward the end. The finish was medium to long with orange, pepper, and a hint of old florals.

SCORE: 7 (81)

IMAGE: Storage Relics of the By-Gone Generation

THOUGHTS: This tasted properly old, like an antique. Yet, it was still in great shape after more than two decades in the bottle. While I saw some reviews on Whiskybase note this as particularly woody, I found those aspects were more or less in check, though perhaps they will emerge with more time. On that note, I believe I have a pour from another bottle of this somewhere among my samples— so we shall see! Overall, a delightful whisky, one for relaxing with which reminded me a fair bit of the Archives labels that the distillery does.

Ben Nevis 11 Year (2013), Dramfool Cask 551

NOTES: The aroma was sugary and creamy with skittles, gummy bears, and a bit of funky, floral fresh cream. Medium-bodied on the palate, the flavor profile remained sweet and sugary with more melted skittles and melted snow cones in paper cups. Time brought maltier notions of Ovaltine and chocolate as wood pushed in with pepper and vanilla. Cracked pepper and a bit of spirit lingered at the end, though a wave of melted skittles provided a sugary finale. The finish was medium to short in duration, peppery, and a bit drying.

SCORE: 5 (75)

IMAGE: Summetime Sugar Rush

THOUGHTS: Simple fare— this was sweet, spirited, and not nearly as funky as I expected. A few drops of water cooled some of the peppery, spirited elements, but left the whisky feeling rather one note: melted candy. I have never been a huge fan of these young Ben Nevis and this is not the first I found a bit cloying at times. Overall, a great candidate for making high balls.

Invergordon 36 Year (1988), Dramfool Cask 1486

NOTES: An initial gust of dried fruits gave the impression of yet another sherry matured Invergordon, but everything after was classic old grain in a bourbon cask: vanilla beans, bourbon cakes, custard donuts, fried dough, cream, etc. Medium-bodied on the palate, the whisky was syrupy and loaded with woody vanillic sugars. Custard donuts and fried dough met bourbon ice cream for a sugary-creamy explosion. The spirit was well-integrated, but a few drops of water didn’t hurt, and brought out more banana pudding. The finish was long and creamy, slightly peppery without water.

SCORE: 6 (78)

IMAGE: Donut Shop Blues

THOUGHTS: This had a rather wild transformation in the glass, from something that surely felt sherried, to a classic old grain profile. There was not much more to report— if you love old grain, then this was a classic and straightforward in nature. Water brought out another side, giving a sort of creamy banana and cookie quality while taming the hint of peppery on the finish. I was not a huge fan of the transition and preferred it with just straight vanilla and custard. Overall, a comforting warm blanket.