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Glen Albyn 1975 26 Year Old

Average score from 3 reviews and 4 ratings 83

Glen Albyn 1975 26 Year Old

Product details

  • Brand: Glen Albyn
  • Bottler: Distillery Bottling
  • Series: Rare Malts
  • ABV: 54.8%
  • Age: 26 year old
  • Vintage: 1975

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@markjedi1
Glen Albyn 1975 26 Year Old

Glen Albyn’s destiny is even worse than Glen Mhor’s. This distillery – also in Inverness – was also closed in 1983 and demolished to make room for a shopping center. But in Glen Albyn’s case, even the B&Q complex that resides there now is in ruins. There are not official bottlings bar this one: Glen Albyn 1975 in the Rare Malts Selection. For me, it is only the 4th and it has already been over four years since I last was able to try one.

The nose is fairly closed and offers only some heather, menthol and hard pears at first. Woodsmoke and some peppers, but also some honey after a while. But it needs time to breathe to reveal its secrets. A bit dusty with a huge acidity, which keeps me unconvinced at this point.

It is nicely oily on the palate, though, but also quite piquant. Some grasses, green herbs (cardamom!) and peppers, before the fruit can even start to shine. Agave? Truly, this is unexpected. Some citrus (lemon, oranges) and liquorice. Pears and Granny Smith apples. The wood does become quite loud quite quickly.

The finish is long and creamy; the peppers dry the mouth completely while the oak gives a warm, almost burning sensation. The death is salty.

Glen Albyn remains difficult for me. I would like to appreciate it more, but I just cannot. Thanks, Chris!

@Pierre_W

Glen Albyn distillery was founded in 1844 by James Sutherland who was a provost in Inverness. Production started in 1846 but in 1855 the distillery was put up for sale and, as there were no buyers, was eventually converted into a flour mill. In 1884 it was rebuilt by the new owners Gregory & Co., however whisky production did not start again until 1891. Between 1917 and 1919 the distillery was closed and was used as a US naval base for the production of sea mines. Mackinlays & Birnie (who were the owners of the nearby Glen Mhor distillery) purchased Glen Albyn in 1920. They operated it until 1972 when it was acquired by DCL (Distillers Company Limited). The distillery was taken out of production in 1983 and was demolished in 1986.

The nose is grassy, fresh and pleasantly nutty. After a while mint flavours develop, accompanied by lemon biscuit and soapy elements. With water there are hints of vanilla and fudge.

The palate is medium-bodied, buttery, oaky and very peppery. With water notes of cereal and vanilla appear, though a faint tannic dryness remains.

The finish is long and dry. Lemons appear, followed by vanilla notes and a touch of oak.

I have not tried too many Glen Albyn expressions over the years, but this one was the best by far. I like this style of whisky, the way the nutty flavours mingle with soapy and peppery elements, and a drop of water clearly brings the best out of this single malt. A blast from the past, and just my style!

@WhiskyNotes

Nose: grassy nose with a big peppery kick. It seems harsh at first, and quite closed, but there are pleasant fruity / flowery notes. Mint and lemon. Straightforward oak. A hint of soap but it gets away with it.

Mouth: firm but rather malty and mineral. Clean oak, grains, grass and a faint fruity note that’s difficult to define. Overall rather sharp. Evolving on slightly bitter grapefruit.

Finish: more wood bitterness with hints of citrus.

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