Glenlivet 39 year old (D.1970 B.2009) Rare Auld Duncan Taylor / 54.3% / 0.7l

Rare Auld (meaning "Old and Unique") is an extremely prestigious series from Duncan Taylor Ltd. comprising single malt and single grain whiskies released in their natural form in single cask versions.

These unique spirits come from distilleries scattered across Scotland and, while differing, sometimes significantly, from the official releases, they show the full spectrum of the producer’s potential. The Glenlivet presented here was distilled in February 1970, when the distillery operated as part of The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd (together with Glen Grant and Longmorn distilleries). The whisky spent almost four decades in cask no. 2002, which in September 2009 resulted in just 110 bottles of cask strength whisky (54.3% abv). Duncan Taylor Ltd. was founded in 1938 in Glasgow and has been owned by Euan Shand since 2002.

Nose: initially subdued, plums, apricots, oranges, honey, toffee, sugared nuts, potpourri, notes of hay, wax and toasted oak.

Palate : honey, vanilla, oranges, pink grapefruits, baked apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, a touch of ginger, licorice, oak and a hint of hay.

Finish : quite long, with notes of honey, zesty orange, fresh herbs, cinnamon, oak and a trace of leather.