[Quick review] The Glenlivet - 1949 Gordon & Macphail Private Collection 49.3%



Distillery: The Glenlivet

Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail

Age: 74 years old

Distilled: 01/01/1949

Bottled: 06/03/2023

Cask: Refill Sherry Butt

Abv: 49.3%

Unchillfiltered: Yes

Natural Colour: Yes

Nb of bottles: 192

Extra: Cask #11 (Private Collection)


My tasting notes:

Nose: Rich & oaky, old bookcase, candied orange, rich silky caramel, macadamia nuts, brown sugar, dark fruit, hints of candlewax, stewed caramelised apples, linseed oil, hints of smoke, slight leather. Wow…

Palate: Concentrated flavours, old wood, polish, leather, treacle, oak spice, hints of ash and cedar wood, mouth coating & waxy, dark dried fruit. After a few minutes, some green mint appears, orange, slight umami. Stunning!

Finish: Long lasting, fruit & nuts, oak spice, slight smoke still, prunes, dried mangoes, hints of earthiness.

With water: More sweetness on the nose with more fruit/orange. The palate gets more citrus & some old bottle notes. The finish gains in demerara sugar.


What an experience! This is something I doubt I’ll get to try again anytime soon but I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to try such a piece of whisky history.


Slàinte all!


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