Glenglassaugh 35 Years Old 1978 Madeira Wood Finish (41.7%, OB, 1320 Bottles, 2014)

• ABV: 41.7%
• Age: 35 Years Old
• Bottling: OB, The Massandra Connection, Madeira Wood Finish
• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £discontinued
• Origin: Glenglassaugh distillery
• Vintage: 1978

What they say

A 2014 addition to Glenglassaugh’s Massandra Connection series. This 35 year old single malt, was distilled in 1978 and finished in a Madeira puncheon from the Massandra winery, the oldest winery in the Crimea.

Official tasting notes:

• Nose: Ripe melon, sweet oak and a good waft of coastal air.
• Palate: Dried apricot, melon, green mint. The coastal air comes back for a second round, followed by drying oak.
• Finish: Oak-y and long.
• Overall: Not as sweet as you might think – this one’s got heaps of depth to it.

What I say

Another 35 year old 1978 Glenglassaugh, jumped at the chance to try this one despite very little relevance of those numbers other than to compare to the only other old stock Glenglassaugh I had sampled. This one comes from the Massandra Connection series and is finished in ex-Madeira wood.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Ruby amber (15/20), rare, medium tears and long fine legs.
• Nose: Woody, fruity and herbal, old polished wood and antique polished oak, walnut, some a little pickled, tobacco leaf, cigar boxes, dried fruit; raisin and figs, touch of eucalyptus sap.
• Taste: Fruity, tropical, sherried and fruity jam, red berries, rhubarb, plum, raisin and fig, molasses, woody spice, cinnamon, ginger and marzipan, again hints of mint and eucalyptus.
• Finish: Long, fruity, oaky, liqourice, vinous, red berry and plum.

Overall

Another super old expression from Glenglassaugh, not perfect and I suspect very rescued by the Madeira cask finish which has a huge impact here.

Score 86/100

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