Dufftown-Glenlivet 8 yo (80° proof, OB for Ghirlanda, Italy, +/-1968) 
We've already tried several old 8s but never with this label bearing a 'red distillery' (instead of a white one). Geek stuff, I agree, but 80° proof UK means 46% vol... And warning, these old Dufftwons 8 can be either 'meh' or utterly stellar. Colour: straw. Nose: not meh for sure. Old Highlands style in full swing, with great whiffs of shoe polish, metal polish, engine oil, Seville oranges, camphor, soot, ashes and walnuts. Same kind of tobacco as in the current 18. Perfect power. Enough! Mouth: absolutely superb, just like their bros the Blair Athols from the same era could be, although the Dufftowns used to be fatter and less fruity. That's exactly the case here, it's very waxy and kind of petroly, with then a lot of old liqueurs, tars, oils and crystallised oranges and citrons. An unbeatable style. Finish: long, pleasantly sour (towards lemons and green apples), which further 'lifts' it. Wonderful freshness and the aftertaste is unexpectedly salty. A wee bit of mustard too. Comments: fabulous. Now, watch out, the versions at 46% or 80° proof are incomparably better than the ones at 40% or 70° proof. So make no mistake, should you try to find these old bottles. SGP:552 - 92 points.
