Whisky: Glen Ord 28 Year SMWS 77.65 "Pure dead brilliant"

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 49.3%

Cask: 2nd Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 28 Years (Distilled 19 Feb. 1992)

Nose: Fruity, waxy, and buttery.  Tutti-frutti and banana runts came to mind as the aroma of artificial banana, candied fruits, and cream wafted out.  Chocolate and orchard fruits slowly developed with chocolate bananas, apples, pears, ginger, and butter.

Palate: Medium-bodied and vibrant with fruit, wood, and herbal elements. Soursop and fruity milk tea arrived first, followed closely by brown-sugar boba ice cream bars— sweet caramel and the woody stick. Sweet oak and subtle spice developed as an undercurrent of vanilla and caramel crested on the mid-palate. In their wake were waxy lemon candies, licorice, and muddled mint.

Finish:  Lingering drying astringency with mellow fruits.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Rieslings at Sunset

Narrative & Notes: A very old Glen Ord and a special treat for a recent whisky club anniversary tasting— this received the least amount of votes for “best of the tasting.” Despite that, it was no slouch, and on any other evening, it would have certainly been in the running for best of the night. Absolutely brimming with flavor, this was on the verge of being over-oaked. In fact, I am sure that one’s enjoyment of vanilla-herbal “old oak” notes likely plays a significant role in whether one enjoys this or not— to some local tasters, that particular note struck them as akin to biting down on a popsicle or ice cream bar stick.

I enjoyed this dram’s creamy and waxy elements; they were slow to develop on the nose but right front and center on the palate. They combined with notions of vanilla and caramel to give the impression of a brown sugar boba bar— one of my wife’s favorite treats. The mouthfeel verged on being too light on occasion, and I think if it had felt a bit heavier or thicker, the whisky would have been stunning. Instead, it faded a bit toward the end with a mellow astringency that recalled thick grape skins or nuts.

Overall, a delightful old Glen Ord with a prominent woody backbone to sweeter herbal notes of tea and fruit. I would not go out of my way to try this dram, but I am curious to try more mature Glen Ord.