Glenlivet 2007 (Italian Car series)

Italian Car Series is a range of whiskies bottled for Jan Vissers who owns the Single Malt Whisky Shop in Zammel, Belgium. He’s an Italian car freak and the labels feature drawings of old Ferrari Formula-1 cars.

I’m a bit scared of the outrageous ABV (67% after 11 years), but here goes…

Glenlivet 11 yo 2007 (67%, Signatory Vintage – Italian car series #4 2018, first-fill sherry hogshead #900201, 312 btl.)

Nose: syrupy fruits, lots of blackberries, cherries and raspberry jam. Walnuts, chestnuts, figs, raisins. Lots of cinnamon pastry. A bit of vanilla sugar as well. Some fragrant top notes (Turkish delight) as well as some tobacco and leather in the background. Gingerbread too. A modern, clean sherry bomb.

Mouth: very sweet and sherried again. Strawberries, toffee, then drier notes of walnuts, herbs and a touch of potpourri. Too hot when taken neat though, let’s add water. More herbs, chocolate, menthol and a little camphory touch. Some espresso.

Finish: very long, with earthy touches, orange peel, pepper and tobacco.

A super strong sherry bomb that will bite your nose off, in line with a cask-strength GlenDronach or some of these Kavalans. Rather impeccable though. Around € 110, still a few bottles available.

Score: 90/100