Baretto in Milan was the exclusive importer for Italy of Glenlivet in the 1960s and 1970s. Their Glenlivet 12 Year Old was an unblended all malt – already quite something back in the 1960s and 1970s when the single malt market was very, very small.

Glenlivet 12 yo ‘Unblended all malt’ (45,7%, OB for Baretto, early 1970s)

Nose: at the same time elegant and weighty, highly integrated. Something of honeyed tea (chamomile), vanilla and blackberries, but also lots of old-school notes. Silver polish, subtle smoke, grease, leather and leafy notes. Hints of iron and candle wax. Rye bread...