I obtained an old Smith's Glenlivet at auction November of 2003. For my first taste of it, I had my wife pour a sample of the Smith's and a sample from a newly opened modern 12 year old O.B., and I tasted them blind. One tasted dusty and tired, the other was bright and vibrant. I made my guess as to which was which. I was wrong. Read on.
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Nose shows red delicious apple and oxidized red delicious apple core, green apple, oak barrel, light bourbon, cinnamon, calvados, fresh hay, a bit of sherry, and the aromas of a wine maturation warehouse. It is pleasantly sweet. On the palate it is smooth, moving to warmth, with flavors of malt and nutmeg and a wisp of smoke. Slight sherry influence. Slightly dusty and tired. In the finish, smoky apple, oak fire, and burning paper. Not great, a bit fatigued, and a bit reminiscent of the Hart Brothers Highland Park 10 year old. |
Nose is clean and very sweet, with Bartlett pear, vanilla, rum, oak chip, maple, root beer, and a pronounced licorice-mint note. On the palate it is excellent, sweet and treacley, Dalmoreish, showing vanilla rum. It is substantial, creamy, perky and vibrant, and seems tuned to American tastes. A commercial, accessible finish that is very sweet, rummy, and linen textured, with the flavor of chardonnay. Truly a great bottling. | |
| Suggested for: Aperitif | Suggested for: Early evening, or aperitif |