Moon Import's Glenkinchie "The Costumes" 1966 vintage

A legendary spirit experience! For those as passionate about whisky as I am, you know of the rare bottles out there. Some are from distilleries no longer operating, and others are from esteemed independent bottlers of the 1980s. Well-known legends include Karuizawa, Hanyu, Pappy Van Winkle, and Port Ellen, along with two Italian retailers: Moon Import and Samaroli. Moon Import was established in the early 80s by an Italian named Pepi Mongiardino, who created beautiful labels for his releases. It's often said that "These iconic designs, coupled with the quality of the liquid saw Moon Import steadily grow in popularity." In 1988, he unveiled a collection that became highly sought after by collectors, called "The costumes." And, as you might expect, I've finally tasted one. This Glenkinchie was aged in hogshead #2573 and was released as part of The Costumes. It was distilled in 1966 and bottled in 1988, bearing a 22-year age statement. On the nose, it's exceptional. Chocolate, wood shavings, lemon, and hazelnut. A truly powdery hazelnut and nutmeg. There's a bit of spice and scorched hay. It reminds me of old books with stuck pages. Like Hanuta; impressively nutty. On the palate, it's also absolutely perfect. Chocolate and lime. So intense and sharp. It evokes paper; it feels old with a mellow spice that envelops everything. After the first sip, I got a delightful buttery chocolate. Butter. Mashed vanilla cookies. On the third sip, it's out of this world; it's amazing with a Lindt chocolate note. The finish was also great. Old books, dampness. Dry raw cereal, spicy, and malted barley notes. Overall; this is not just a piece of whisky history, it's also a fine drink. I appreciate when these types of single malts meet expectations. A completely complex, well-rounded single malt, my rating is 97 out of 100. I sampled it at a Scottish pub called "the Abbey," you should definitely seek it out if you get the chance. With every passing moment, the opportunities to find it diminish. Cheers!