Strathclyde 32yo 1980 Dimensions
Strathclyde Distillery - Gorbals, Glasgow |
Tastes & Smells
Compared to the CD Strathclyde 33yo this was tasted alongide, this was much creamier on the nose, with more toffee (toffee apple) and a fresh lemony thing going on too. It smelled quite similar to the Hedonism, but whereas that has a strong smell of bananans, this was more pear. The sweetness on the nose moved towards a slight spicy zing in the mouth along with a big hit. Lemons feature again (with lemons in syrup and lemonade) and it's even fruitier than on the nose. Lots going on here: it's herby, oily and sweet, with a hint of mint. It becomes dry over time and has a 'loooong' finish that's a bit spicy. Lemons feature yet again and it's now getting sourer, like a sour gobstopper. The fruit is now fruit salad (the pudding, not the sweets) and it's amazing how unnoticable the alcohol level is throughout.
Graintacular?
I really enjoyed this and it was a clear winner in the battle of the old Strathclydes. It had a great lemony vibe throughout and a lot of flavours were keen to show themselves consistently. The balance was great, and it had a big hit every time you visited it - not in an alcoholic way but in a sense of flavour impact. The alcohol made little impact on the tasting, which is the way it should be - it felt like this was bottled at the right time and at the perfect strength. Both these older Strathclydes were quite unlike their younger siblings reviewed on this site.
Summary & Ramblings
This was summery and fresh. I likened it to waiting as a kid on a summertime suburban lemonade stand, the type you see in American movies. Or for a UK equivalent, lounging in the sun in an English orchard, perhaps entranced by a slowly fermenting pear.
Tasted on: 26/01/14
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tldr;
Great, well-balanced and lemony. Consistent flavours throughout and fresh, summery profile. A week or so after tasting, perhaps not as memorable as I expected it would be though.