Baretto in Milan was the exclusive importer for Italy of Glenlivet in the 1960s and 1970s. Their Glenlivet 12 Year Old was an unblended all malt – already quite something back in the 1960s and 1970s when the single malt market was very, very small.
Glenlivet 12 yo ‘Unblended all malt’ (45,7%, OB for Baretto, early 1970s)
Glenlivet 12 yo ‘Unblended all malt’ (45,7%, OB for Baretto, early 1970s)Nose: at the same time elegant and weighty, highly integrated. Something of honeyed tea (chamomile), vanilla and blackberries, but also lots of old-school notes. Silver polish, subtle smoke, grease, leather and leafy notes. Hints of iron and candle wax. Rye bread too.
Mouth: slightly bittersweet, on marmalade, resinous notes and pepper. Soft aromatic, almost flowery waxy notes. Silver polish again (could be OBE). A wee touch of wet cardboard perhaps, but it suits this style. Roasted nuts. Resin and whiffs of smoke.
Finish: very long, with more smoke, grapefruit zest and mineral notes.
To modern standards this would be a Highlands style, not Speyside. Mineral, slightly austere, an old style that is rather great. Thank you, Carsten.
Score: 90/100