Welcome back to Old, Rare, & Open. This week, Vin from No Nonsense Whisky samples four 8 Year Old whiskies from the 1970s and 1980s. The whiskies hail from Scapa, Strathisla, Glenfarclas, and Glen Mhor. Let’s see how they hold up after over four decades in the bottle.
The Scapa, Strathisla, and Glen Mhor, all bottled by Gordon & Macphail, hail from the 1980s. By contrast, the Glenfarclas was bottled in the 1970s, and is heavily sherried in comparison to the other single malts. The Glenfarclas 8 Year Old 100 Proof was one of the first official bottlings for Glenfarclas after they took control of their own bottling operations in the late 1970s, having previously contracted bottling through Gordon & Macphail.
Of the Gordon & Macphails single malts, all three are from different regions (depending on how you classify the islands, of course). It will be interesting to see how these 8 year olds compare given their regional differences and varying distillery profiles.
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Glen Mhor 8 Year Old Gordon & Macphail 1980s
The 57% ABV bottling of the Glen Mhor 8 Year Old has won praise from Serge Valentin at WhiskyFun, with the famous taster calling it “[v]ery, very good and bang-for-your-buck malt, at the time”. Will the 40% ABV version fare in a similar way?
Appearance: Straw
Nose: Beeswax polish and almonds, complemented by a hint of dried fruits, subtle sherry influence.
Palate: A thin texture on the palate, but bursting with fruity notes at the forefront, followed by honey, vanilla, and floral undertones, with a touch of raisin and Christmas cake.
Finish: Musty and dusty character with a lasting impression of the flavours on the palate.
Overall: Complex, and a unique experience it offers from a closed distillery, despite its thinness on the palate.
Score: 6/10
Strathisla 8 Year Old Gordon & Macphail 1980s
Gordon & Macphail is the main supplier of single malt bottlings from Strathisla. This 8 year old was bottled by G&M in the 1980s.
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READ THE STORYAppearance: Straw
Nose: Wood polish, sourness, lacking significant fruitiness.
Palate: Musty and somewhat mouldy character. Incredibly thin and sour.
Finish: A finish full of the less desirable aspects from the palate, with a lingering mouldy character.
Overall: Not really my thing. The profile could have been tainted over time, but equally it could just be personal preference.
Score: 4/10
Scapa 8 Year Old Gordon & Macphail 1980s
This 8 year old was bottled by Gordon & Mapchail in the 1980s. The label features a Viking longship, paying homage to Orkney’s Nordic influences.
Appearance: Straw
Nose: Vanillas, caramels, and manuka honey, with some nuttiness.
Palate: Interesting. Thin in flavour but a notable mouthfeel. Silk. It presents oaky, tannic notes with a tobacco-like character and a sour finish.
Finish: Tannic and increasingly sour, coating your tongue.
Overall: Interesting mouthfeel and some unique flavours, but I wouldn’t necessarily want a whole bottle.
Score: 5/10
Glenfarclas 8 Year Old 100 Proof 1970s
This Glenfarclas 8 Year Old was bottled in the 1970s at 100 Proof. Glenfarclas had, prior to 1979, outsourced their bottling to Gordon & Macphail under license. As such, this was one of the first official bottlings of Glenfarclas done under their own steam.
Appearance: Tawny
Nose: Oh my god. Not what I was expecting. Sharp, acrid and tannic nose with deep raisins, figs, and a citrusy note. A proper sherry bomb.
Finish: Still spicy on the finish, lingering hotness.
Overall: Challenging but rewarding profile for those who enjoy high-proof, sherry-influenced whiskies. Not necessarily my thing, but definitely packs a punch.
Score: 6/10
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