Gordon & MacPhail Glen Mhor 8 year old review

 

Our 8th review is now added to the Whisky Section - where else?

Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail

Details: 40% strength

Distilled: unknown - likely mid to late 1970s

Bottled: bottled at 8 years of age

Strength: 40%

The classic red label Gordon & MacPhail bottling for the 8 year old, which has morphed into various designs over the years including the later design with a drawing - mirroring the 70cl equivalent release. This one does also exist as a 70 proof strength, which would indicate a 1970s bottling. However, this particular release ditches that aspect for the strength format we use today - indicating that it's from the 1980s.

Colour: caramel.

On the nose: light initially, and some maltiness. Then apples start to come through go the musty aspect, with chalk dust and creaminess. Time brings out more apples and pears in a relaxed fashion. There's a savoury, beefy, element within and a herbaceous note towards the end with wood sap.

In the mouth: a little soap initially, but this soon moves on. More wood and savoury notes, a watered-down beef stock cube, pepper, balsa wood, tea leaves, wood spice and bitter oak. Oily and resinous in places.

These 8 year olds can vary depending on the batches, as mentioned in my Instagram TV review. There's no real way beyond the label to tell when it was bottled. This one is more middle of the road. It has character but does suffer at the reduced strength of 40%. Solid enough entry dram to Glen Mhor in general.

Score: 5/10