Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Glenlivet 1972 Vintage Cellar Collection

2005 Edition: The Glenlivet 1972 Vintage



A unique vatting of just 10 casks / 2015 bottles. Each bottle is individually numbered and the labels carry the bottling date and whisky strength. The use of a solid wood frame and case together with materials such as leather and brass combine to showcase the premium nature of the Cellar Collection. Bottled at natural cask strength of 52.3%, and without the use of chill-filtration, it is the definitive Speyside single malt whisky.

THE GLENLIVET CELLAR COLLECTION 1972
The Glenlivet unveils eagerly anticipated Special Edition

The launch of The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1972 was welcomed by whisky experts, enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. Now in its tenth year, The Cellar Collection is the ultimate expression of single malt Scotch whisky from the most famous distillery in Speyside.

For centuries, the whiskies from the ‘glen of the River Livet’ have been renowned for their quality, none more so than The Glenlivet itself. Celebrated internationally for its complexity, The Glenlivet is respected the world over as the Speyside single malt whisky of unparalleled quality and heritage; of all its award-winning expressions, the Cellar Collection has become the most collectable.

Since the creation of the series, the whiskies which form the Cellar Collection were identified and hand-selected by Master Distiller, Jim Cryle. He sought out casks which were capable of displaying the unique distillery character of The Glenlivet; they had to be of the utmost quality and suitable for further, prolonged maturation at the distillery. After selection, the casks lay undisturbed in the Cellar Collection Warehouse, one of the oldest at the distillery.

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1972 is a unique vatting of just 10 casks. The newly-made spirit from a single day’s distillation was filled into hogsheads on 24 August 1972 at The Glenlivet Distillery. After filling, the parcel of casks was placed into Warehouse 5 at the distillery and initially stored in the lower tiers of stows 87 and 89.

The interaction of The Glenlivet spirit, local climate and cask selection allowed the wholly natural flavour of The Glenlivet to fully develop and to be further enhanced by the gentle wood character of refill hogsheads. As a result, The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1972 has a richness and fruitiness that only prolonged maturation can impart. Bottled at natural cask strength, and without the use of chill-filtration, it is a definitive Speyside single malt whisky.

Latest In A Distinguished Series
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection comprises a series of limited releases of often unique batches of Scotch whisky sometimes aged for 40 years or more. Often never to be repeated, each expression enjoys the distinctive personality of The Glenlivet whilst displaying different characteristics.

Its editions are prized and award winning: the 1959 Cellar Collection won the Best Single Malt Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge in 2002 and reached up to $5000 at auction in the USA for a single bottle. More recently The Glenlivet 1964 Cellar Collection also won a Gold Medal at the International Spirits Challenge in 2005.

With the release of this unique 1972 vintage, The Glenlivet Cellar Collection will also evolve in its appearance to emphasise the elevated position older expressions of The Glenlivet occupy in the world of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A new, broad-shouldered, clear bottle emphasises the stature of these whiskies as well as the beautiful, deep colours derived from extended maturation.

In addition, the use of materials such as leather and brass, together with a new ash frame, combine to highlight the premium nature of The Glenlivet Cellar Collection and to provide the perfect physical showcase for a whisky of such finesse and undisputed heritage.


Tasting notes

Nose: Fruity, reminiscent of a sweet, juicy pear; with the perfume of heather in bloom on a warm summer’s day on the hills surrounding the distillery; a hint of gentle, sweet spiciness and citrus; and with an underlying, balanced, mature wood note.

Palate: A beautiful, rich fruitiness; velvety smooth; the creamy sweetness of warm fudge; a gentle whiff of smokiness; a long, smooth aftertaste of maltiness, and after, a sense of calm and well-being.

Comments: This is a perfect combination of distillation excellence and traditional maturation. This is a malt whisky that is not dominated or influenced by sherry, bourbon or port, but a malt whisky that is the epitome of the art of distillation. The refill hogshead casks contributes a gentle mature oakiness, with sweetness and gentle spiciness, combining beautifully with the fruity, floral, citrus notes of the distillate.

AvailabilityAround 2000 bottles in total available in the over 20 counties including: USA, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Australia.

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