Glen Moray 1962 v Glenfiddich 1973 v Old Pulteney 1964

[lincoln imp]

This was not meant to be a head to head as such, just three aged whisky but I thought it better to do them on the same tasting note topic rather than have three separate ones.
Tasted in this order


Glen Moray 1962 42 year 47.2% bourbon, Celtic Heartlands Murray Mcdavid
Glenfiddich 1973 34 year 46.6% OB for LMDW
Old Pulteney 1964 34 year 50% Douglas Laing OMC 197 bottles

In a nutshell, the Glenfiddich was out in front and a clear winner, the 2nd best Glenfiddich I have tasted with a superb nose.
The Old Pulteney was a classic Pulteney profile that improved with water.
The Glen Moray was in truth in the cask too long, should have been bottled maybe 5 years earlier, still a good whisky but the oak has made it's mark.


Tasting notes:-

Glen Moray 1962
This whisky promised more than it delivered, the fruit is nice, but the oak has got to it a little, bottled maybe 4-5 years earlier, this would have been awesome i am sure, still a good whisky mind and a pleasure to taste such an old Glen Moray.
Nose
92
The first thing to say is that this has a nice nose, rich and multi layered.
Plenty of fruit on show, mainly orange & mango but then some ripe plum arrives that is mixed with a little ginger, black pepper and burnt treacle with the faintest hint of peat/smoke.
With water there is more of everything.
Taste
88
It is quite bitter at first with the wood pushing the sweet fruit out the way and it is a little drying.
The fruit is juicy and lip smacking but also a little overripe, slightly sour if you will.
The spice note increases along with the peat that there was only a hint of at first.
i will add water to see if this sweetens up a little, fingers crossed.
With water :-
Good, it is a little sweeter but the oak is overpowering the fruit and spice as you go on.
The fruit is orange, mango plum and maybe a hint of fresh pineapple.
Finish
89
The finish is pleasant with water added and finally the fruit bursts through in equal measure to the spice, the oak is still there but has been overcome, at last

Glenfiddich 1973
This is the 2nd best Glenfiddich i have ever had, great balance, great taste, lovely stuff.
Balance is key here, the nose on it's own is at 95 points which ups the average to 94 points.

Nose
95
Oak & spice is my first thought.
A powerful & expressive whisky with a nice silky orange note mixed with lucozade drink.
Masses of Christmas spice and rich fruit cake.
Ginger, possibly paprika (not totally sure on that one), just a great , multi layered nose that you need to spend time over.

Taste
93
Ok, nice attack, spicy and really fruity.
The balance is really good, the orange fruitiness is really juicy, the spice and pepper mix with faint peat in the right proportions, glorious stuff.
The spice increases, as does the peat but that smooth orange liqueur sweetness mixed now with a nice milk chocolate note, yes there is some oak, any more and it would detract but the quality of the cask holds out.

Finish
93
Long fruity and spicy until the end.

With a little water , oh my more spice, much more and more fruit, lovely.

Old Pulteney 1964
Good whisky, better with a little water.
Old Pulteney is never an easy whisky at any age in my view and this oldie is a perfect example of that, the flaws are there but the positives outweigh them.

Nose
92
A nice spicy powerful nose, a white fruit bonanza, hints of orange, pineapple in the mix but so much more.
What i like about the nose is that it is classic, coastal briny character that is so Old Pulteney.
The fruit is stewed for an age by the smell of it and a little peat is in the mix which adds to the whole experience.

Taste
88
Quite mouth filling, the white fruits are there, green apple, hint of lemon, pineapple but also some oak is present which blunts the effect a little.
As you go on the fruit increases, stewed fruit, with white pepper and a hint of peat.
The mouthfeel is really good but the the oak does blunt it.

Finish
90
Long & spicy

With water:-
The nose is the same but the palate is noticeably sweeter and more importantly improved.
_________________
Pour me a glass please.