A high-strength Glen Elgin 1971 bottled for Italian importers Samaroli in the mid-1980s. This was a small batch of just 1200 bottles.
Let’s see if this one is a great as the famous 1971 ‘Fragments’ that was to be bottled three years later (91). Colour: white wine. Nose: this smells exactly like when you’re entering a genuine Chinese restaurant – no kidding. A most unusual mix of soft spices and herbs (coriander, green pepper, lovage) and sweet and sour tones (plum sauce, red sauce for dim sum – can’t remember the name, and dried longans). Even roasted duck! Goes on with ham, slightly stale orange juice, blackberries, gingerbread. Slight soapiness. Extremely unusual whisky. Mouth: we’re a little closer to the 1976 now, but with a bigger body. Dried fruits, sweet spices, a little ginger, lemon, a little mint… A little prickly, alas (lemon peel). Hints of coconut liqueur. Finish: long, candied. Crystallised quinces, cinnamon. Comments: bigger than the 1976 but also a little less complex and entertaining in fact. SGP:551 – 86 points.
Distillery | Glen Elgin |
Classification | Single Malt Whisky |
Bottle No./Released | 924/1200 |
Vintage | 1971 |
Age | - |
Bottler | Samaroli |
Bottling Date | 1985 |
ABV/ Volume | 50.0%/ 75cl |
Rating/SGP | 86/551 |
Cask Number | - |
Type: Speyside - Diageo