GlenDullan 1965 25 Year Old Cadenhead Green Bottle 52.4%

A flawless bottle that left me in awe. GlenDullan 1965-1991 25 Year Old Cadenhead Green Bottle 52.4% The aroma is strong, complex, and sensually alluring, with notes of concentrated apricot tea, light strawberry jam, cinnamon, a touch of cream, lingering barley sweetness, balanced oak, subtle peat, and rich depth. Upon drinking, it begins with a soft mouthfeel that expands into a rich, powerful flavor profile filled with a thrilling sensuality, the sweetness of apricot jam, deep barley umami, tightening oak, and a faint tar-like peatiness. The body is thick, with an intoxicatingly long finish. 【Excellent】 This GlenDullan 1965, aged for 25 years and bottled by Cadenhead in their iconic green bottle. Previously, I had tasted a similar specification bottle from Green Cadenhead, but it didn't leave as strong an impression. However, this one immediately stood out from the first sip, which surprised me greatly. Upon closer inspection, I realized that what I had tasted before was 61.1% ABV—a different proof version of the same specification. From the very beginning, the aroma is sensually complex and thrilling, with nuances of matured black tea, intensely concentrated apricot and strawberry notes. Yet, the barley sweetness remains clearly present. A subtle peatiness emerges from the depths, creating a richly complex and alluring profile. Savoring it, the mouthfeel is gentle yet expands powerfully into a richly aromatic flavor of matured fruits and barley umami, balanced oak, and peat. The body is fully present, with ample drinking satisfaction and a long finish. Throughout, the sensuality and intoxication were captivating. Undoubtedly, this is a top-tier bottle. The combination of aging depth, barley umami, thick body, and sensuality immediately makes me think of Samaroli's Full Proof bottlings. If blind-tasted, I would guess it to be a Samaroli Full Proof. Considering that Samaroli's Dassies casks were originally from Cadenhead, perhaps the exceptional character of this bottle stems from Cadenhead's outstanding cask quality. It was a truly remarkable bottle, and I can't help but be grateful for the experience. While it's uncertain whether such a profound level of intoxication would be replicated in future bottles, the 1990s did have exceptional casks that combined thick barley notes with high-quality fruity characteristics. I hope similar nuances will emerge in the future, at least more realistically than trying to recreate 1960s old sherry casks. Regardless, with this specification, the plan is to bottle a 1995 distillation in 2020 for consumption around 2040, which feels quite distant. (laughs) #GlenDullan (GLENDULLAN)