Glenury Royal 1984 (Gordon & MacPhail)

I can still count the number of Glenury Royal reviews on one hand and it isn’t likely to change of course. The distillery fell silent in 1983 and was closed for good in 1985. Now there are apartments on the site.

This Glenury Royal 1984 was bottled in 2012 by Gordon & MacPhail (who else). It must have been one of the last casks being filled – and one of the last to be bottled…?

Glenury Royal 28 yo 1984 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Rare Old’ 2012, refill sherry butt R0/12/05, 430 btl.)

Nose: old-style and rather understated. Fruity and spicy. Golden apples and sweet nectar. A great waxy side: beeswax as well as plain grease. Old paint. Leather. Hints of cinnamon and candied ginger. Some metallic notes too. Pleasantly unmodern.

Mouth: still this oily, waxy profile. A soft sweetness (oranges, floral honey) before it goes towards herbal notes (lovage), menthol and light pepper. Faint mineral notes.

Finish: medium long, fading on mineral notes, citrus and leafy notes.

I’ve never had a bad Glenury, you know. Quite an expensive dram, but if you insist on trying this distillery, it is pretty much the cheapest expression you’ll find. A few left at The Whisky Barrel and TWE for instance.

Score: 90/100