Glenlivet 18yo Pure Single Malt (1990s)

Back in the 90s, an 18-year-old single malt was something more special than it is today. That being said, this Glenlivet labeled "Pure Single Malt" (a term no longer in use) is a magnificent example, extremely intricate and truly delightful. Bottled at 43% ABV, tawny color. On the nose, complexity. Caramelized apples, oranges, pears; everything has a dusty quality. Chocolate, peaches, dates, and apple pie. Hazelnut and cinnamon. After a first taste, it revealed sugar syrup, honey, more peaches and oranges. Subsequent sips brought out orange leaves and cherries. On the palate, this is an incredibly enjoyable dram. Very fruity, with red fruits, peaches, saltiness, and pepper. Oily and thick. Peaches are the most prominent flavor, along with yellow apples and cider. More sips yielded cocoa and salt. Lingering finish is a salty surprise. Peaches, pepper, salt. After that, there's a two-second pause before a ginger-infused long finish emerges. Anise. Overall, this is a much better iteration than today's 18-year-old, which is also a great whisky. Its intricacy makes this a memorable dram, one of my favorite Glenlivets going forward, my rating for it is a solid 92 out of 100. Cheers!

This is pleasant, offering hints of honey, vanilla, pears, green apples, melons, cherries, peaches, apricots, almonds, oranges, marzipan, and raisins.