Murray McDavid ‘Mission Series V’ Glenlivet 1974 (31 year old) 46%
Bourbon/ Dist: 1974 Btl: 2005/ Tasted; Nov 2005
Clean, crisp and slightly estery with light cream and vanilla giving way to the ripest summer berries and barley sugar followed by hints of lemon and lime and an enticing spicy perfumed note, then it is back to the heavier almond, coconut and vanilla notes.
Dry, medium bodied, very elegant with a complex intensity of vanilla, soft fruit, spices, coconut and almonds. The spice builds on the middle and fades leaving a soft barley sugar finish with a crisp salty freshness. All the time you are aware of the background of quality American oak. Stunning balance, gentle and very, very complex.
Murray McDavid ‘Celtic Heartlands’ Glenlivet 1977 (33 year old) 47.7%
Bourbon/ Yquem
Dist: 1977 Btl: 2010 /Tasted: Dec 2010
A huge, rich, tropical nose of banana, apricot, tangerine, kumquat and kiwi. Sublimely balanced with hints of sawdusty vanilla oak and a background of toffee sweetness. One could sniff this all day, it really is a stunning old dram, dripping in natural honey and with just a mere hint of the finishing cask.
The palate mirrors the nose. It is resplendent in its mature tropical fruit and sawdusty oak. The piquant-ish alcohol nips and cleans as the mouth watering fruit and toffee sweetness moves in. Exceedingly long and generous with the tropical fruit returning with a lovely honey/ malty glaze, or maybe it never left!?! Oooh the finish goes on and on and on!! A simply stunning old Glenlivet, which is worth every penny.
Murray McDavid ‘Celtic Heartlands Edition II’ Glenlivet 1968 (36 year old) 41.2%
Bourbon Oak/ Dist: 1968 Btl: 2004/ Tasted: Sept 2004
A clean, toasty, biscuity nose with soft delicate aromas of marzipan, peach and pear. Followed by lots and lots of toasty creamy fudge aromas, with hints of angelica, sherry and salt.
The palate was soft and clean with layer upon layer of sweet toasted cereal, apricot fruit, intermingled with angelica, toffee and citrus fruits. A very tangy, almost floral finish, which seems to linger endlessly.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 