Glenlossie 1978 SMWS 46.9 Tarte Tatin 54.4% 1978

Professional reviews

BOW (89)

Official tasting note (89)

"Tarte Tatin"
This cask had great potential when we tasted it two years ago, but lacked roundness. So we re-racked it into one of our fresh port pipes - and the result is sublime. The whisky itself is not bottled by its owners, probably because it is ranked Top Class by blenders, and the distillery, which stands just outside Elgin, was DCL's first acquisition in Morayshire.

The colour is deep amber - no rosy tints, which makes us think the cask held tawny port and the beading is heavy. The first nose is sweet and heavy with toffee and rich sponge, falmbéed pears and plums: slightly scorched tarte tatin sums it up (the flavour at full strength echoes this). With water it dries out a tad, offering scented furniture polish and light coconut, but no wine notes. The mouth-feel is smooth, and the flavour is all one could hope for from a mature rounded Speyside: complex with great finesse.