Glen Garioch 21-year-old (Distilled 1970) /43%/ 0.7l

Glen Garioch, based in Old Meldrum in the Eastern Highlands, has been producing whisky since 1797, making it one of Scotland's oldest distilleries.

In 1968 the plant ceased production but two years later it was taken over by Morrison Bowmore Ltd. Distillation was based on its own malt, and the master maltster, who honed his craft on Islay, did not spare peat during malting. The change of style came in the mid-90s when the malt house was closed and distillation began from malt free of phenol compounds. The 21-year-old version remained in the company's offer until the beginning of the new century. Many consider it to be the best Glen Garioch officially offered, an incredibly rich, slightly peated and beautifully balanced whisky of the previous era. We present the 1970 Vintage edition, a whisky distilled in the year the plant was taken over by the owners of Bowmore Distillery.

Nose: rich, autumnal, damp forest floor, dried fruit, caramel, orange peel, espresso, traces of old leather and tobacco and peat smoke in the background.

Taste: well-balanced, chocolate hazelnuts, sherry, oak, candied ginger, a pinch of nutmeg, caramel, dried fruit and peat.

Finish : long, peat smoke, dark chocolate, toffee, dried plums, notes of oak and leather.