Glen Albyn 26yo 1975/2002 Rare Malts

Glen Albyn 26yo 1975/2002 Rare Malts

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden yellow
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, peaches, watermelon rind, orange sherbet, malted grains, leather, hints of candle wax. With water, malted grains, leather, lemon sweets, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candle wax, celery salt, leather, lemon sweets, orange sherbet, hints of white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, candle wax, malted grains, white pepper, hints of celery salt. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, watermelon rind, peaches, leather, hints of bubble gum. 

Comments: 

Rare chance to try a Rare Malt! Lots of waxy fruitiness, with an overlay of savoury old bottle effect. It builds to a lovely long finish with bubble gum flavours at the end. Quite wonderful. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Albyn 26yo 1978/2004

Glen Albyn 26yo 1978/2004

Finest Collection, Hart Brothers
Single malt - North Highlands
Bronze gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, fresh cut grass, honey, ginseng, kiwifruit, camphor, orange peel, hints of thyme. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, sticky, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Fresh cut grass, photocopy paper, camphor, kiwifruit, starfruit, honey, black pepper, hints of thyme, hints of jasmine. 
Finish: Long. Leather, mint, photocopy paper, black pepper, honey. 

Comments: 

Lots of old bottle effect, leathery, salty, feinty and fruity. It’s got a herbal edge, and is quite interesting because of that. The floral, slightly soapy finish detracts a little bit.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Albyn 36yo 1976/2012

Glen Albyn 36yo 1976/2012

Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, salt caramel, rhubarb and custard sweets, magic marker, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Salt caramel, fig jam, lemon zest, raisins, pears, hints of magic marker. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, walnuts, lemon zest, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Briny and citrusy, this is a wonderful dram. There are layers of flavour - floral fruit, brassy citrus, luscious jam and finally, gentle, yet briny salt and smoke. There's even a smidgen of old bottle effect.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Albyn 27 yo 1964/1992

Glen Albyn 27 yo 1964/1992

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - North Highlands
Weak tea
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, lemon zest, peat, wet stones, honey, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, chewy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, wet stones, honey, coffee, vanilla, hints of pears. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, coffee, vanilla, wet stones, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

A very rare chance to sample more Glen Albyn. I have to say I paid a pretty price for this, but it won't ever get cheaper. Meaty and peaty, minerally as well. But lots of sweet fruity notes too. Excellent bittersweet minerally finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 69.10 (Glen Albyn 25 yo 1979/2005)

SMWS 69.10 (Glen Albyn 25 yo 1979/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, pears, vanilla, plums, honey, hints of prunes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, raisins, pears, plums, prunes, honey, hints of heather.
Finish: Long. Warm, chocolate, raisins, prunes.

Comments:

Lovely and sweet, gentle and light, and above all, rare. Absolutely delicious whisky, tastes surprisingly like Drambuie.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 69.11 (Glen Albyn 27 yo 1979/2006)

SMWS 69.11 (Glen Albyn 27 yo 1979/2006)

SMWS, 2006
Single malt - North Highlands
Light gold
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hazelnuts, lemon zest, orange peel, white wine, condensed milk, hints of peat. With water, vanilla, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, leather, hazelnuts, lemon zest, white wine, photocopy paper, hints of orange peel, hints of smoke. With water, vanilla, raisins, hints of peaches.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, leather, lemon zest, hazelnuts, peat.

Comments:

Unusual for a non-Islay whisky - peaty, even slightly smoky, with a lively lemony lilt. It becomes more familiar with a dribble of water though, fruitier and sweeter. An odd whisky surely, I get the feeling this was rushed out of the door because it was approaching its sell-by date.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 69.14 (Glen Albyn 28 yo 1979/2008)

SMWS 69.14 (Glen Albyn 28 yo 1979/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Northern Highlands
Pale orange gold
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, oranges, honey, sherbet, raspberry jam, hints of bacon, hints of strawberry.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raspberry jam, bubble gum, vanilla, corn bread, kiwifruit, cucumber, hints of lemon, hints of cookie dough. Water makes the cucumber more obvious, quite refreshing, really.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, raspberry jam.

Comments:

Very complex, and not a little confusing. It's hard to describe. Neat, there's a lot going on the mouth, as can be seen by the long tasting note. Upon adding a little water, it became more vegetal and refreshing. It's a shame this distillery was closed (isn't it always?). This is my first Glen Albyn, and if it is representative of what whisky there is left, I'm sure I'll be a little wiser after every dram...

Verdict:

I like this.