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Glen Ord 1974 23 Year Old

Average score from 2 reviews and 2 ratings 85

Glen Ord 1974 23 Year Old

Product details

  • Brand: Glen Ord
  • Bottler: Distillery Bottling
  • Series: Rare Malts
  • ABV: 60.8%
  • Age: 23 year old
  • Vintage: 1974

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@markjedi1
Glen Ord 1974 23 Year Old

Glen Ord was founded in 1838 on the Black Isle, some 15 kilometers northwest of Inverness. Only 20% is destined for single malt releases, the rest is for Diageo’s blending needs with Johnnie Walker and Dewar’s in the lead. In 1998 this 23 Year Old Glen Ord from 1974 was released in the Rare Malts Selection.

OMG, this is a very interesting nose! Loads of dried yellow fruit, toffee, coffee grinds, strawberry marmalade and mint. Reminds me a tad of After Eight. But mostly – and this does not sound good, but can be truly magnificent in a whisky – rotting oranges. And some soft woodsmoke. Lovely nose that can easily enterain you for more than fifteen minutes.

Ka-boom! Very powerful arrival – which is no surprise, of course – with a very waxy note. Lots of menthol, quinine, dried aprictos, mandarin, strawberry again, candy cherries and coconut. Earl Grey tea (which is kinda funny after the coffee on the nose). Very spicy on nutmeg and black pepper. Sweet, dry, balanced and old school. In one word: delicious!

The long, warm finish even hints at some peat in the mix. Could it be?

I tried the Glen Ord 1973 in the Rare Malts before, but this one is much, much better. A bottle will, however, set you back some 300 to 400 EUR. Thanks, Chris!

@markjedi1

There are not that many official releases from Glen Ord in the market today. Besides the entry level malt Glen Ord 12 Year Old, there are the beautiful 25, 28 and 30 Year Olds. Diageo also released Glen Ord in their Rare Malts Selection twice. One from 1974 and this one from 1973, both at the age of 23. This one has an ABV of almost 60%.

The nose is pungent and oily on green herbs, but no fruit to speak of. Think dille, parsley and a twig of mint. It even has a sour edge that needs some time to evaporate. Rather farmy, which was unexpected and in all honesty not very nice in this case. Only after about five minutes does it turn sweet as chocolate with praline filling.

The attack is feisty, but not scorching. That is good. On the palate, it is bulls eye from the get go. Nicely fruity on sour apples and lemon juice, but with a nice trace of woodsmoke. Nuts. Make that nougat.

The finish is medium long and sweet.

If you can still find the bottle, be advised that it will set you back around 350 EUR which I find overpriced. This was only my 11th Glen Ord which was quite nice, apart from the nose. Thanks, Chris!

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