IB Duncan Taylor 37yo 1970 51.5% - Glen Grant

[jsaliga]

Glen Grant 37 Year Old Sherry Wood Duncan Taylor. Cask Strength 51.5% ABV. Distilled: May 1970, Bottled: November 2007. Cask# 3480, 435 Bottles.



Color: Very dark amber; Sherry.

Nose: Intense dark dry fruits: Figs, prunes. Massive, non-sulphured dry sherry. Hints of wood tannins. Engaging aromas that reward extened nosing.

Taste: Dry sherry that quickly intensifies as it coats the palate. There is nothing at all sweet about this whisky, unlike most sherried single malts that I have tasted. Slightly thin body. More alcohol burn than I was expecting at this strength when taken neat.

Finish: Very long, dry, and strongly astringent tannins. More alcohol burn on the finish.

Comments: This whisky needs water, and more than just a few drops. It also benefits when given plenty of time to rest in the glass. I worked my way up to adding about a teaspoon of water, which softens the intensity of the blast of dry dark fruit on the palate. The finish is still long and astringent but much less objectionably so. If I had to grade this whisky I would give it an "A" for the nose, which is truly remarkable and engaging. On the palate I would give it a "B+" if taken with water, a little less than that if taken neat. The finish gets a "B-" because of the bitterness. If you like sweet sherried whiskies such as Aberlour and Macallan then I doubt you will find this one anywhere near as enjoyable. This is an expensive dram (I paid $259 for my bottle), and while I don't regret buying it I don't feel that the price is justified relative to what it delivers. It is a challenging whisky and not the easiest dram to enjoy. That is not to say that there isn't any enjoyment to be found here, it just takes a little work.

--Jerome

[jsaliga]

Having a follow up dram after dinner. For this one I added a teaspoon of water straight away and let it rest in an uncovered glass for 15 minutes before nosing and tasting.

Nose: Fantastically sherried. Figs and raisins. Crushed walnuts. Mouthwatering. Some woody notes come through but they are not as strong as the earlier tasting. Spectacularly aromatic.

Taste: Dry sherry. Just a wee touch of sweetness and dark fruits on arrival that continues to develop and dry quite nicely as the whisky washes over the palate.

Finish: Some nice dark fruitiness returns at the end of a long, mouth drying, and woody finish.

Notes: It should be clear that this dram was far more enjoyable than the first tasting earlier. This is a difficult whisky to take neat. I think what happend earlier is that my palate was just pulverised by the intense astringency of the wood tannins at full strength, and I did not give myself enough time to recover. This bottling certainly gives new meaning to the term "Sherry Monster," and it's a monster that requires a little bit of taming to get the most out of it. I am really enjoying this whisky more as I spend time with it. I sipped half the dram to write these notes, and have been nosing what is left in the glass on and off for the last 30 minutes before sipping the remainder. I'm mesmerised by this stuff.

--Jerome