Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/19/2006

Question
I have a bottle of scotch from my Grandfather (unopened) Glenfarcas, Glenlivet. 21 years old that I think has been stored since 1955. Is it safe to drink and I thought Glenfarcas and Glenlivet were two seperate distilleries?
Before My Dad and Bro and I drink it we want to know whatit is. Do you ?

Answer
HI Stone:

Glenlivet is the valley, or glen, of the Livet river in Scotland.  Years ago, there were quite a few distilleries there.  Ove the years, that has dropped to just two.  

Glenfarclas, years ago, made a whiskey from this area, and called it Glenfarclas Glenlivet.  The Glenfarclas distillery has been owned by the Grant family for six or seven generations, and is still a family-run operation.  

They are not to be confused with the whiskey called The Glenlivet. This is their trademarked name, and they are the biggest distillery in the Glen of the Livet river.  They are also owned by international liquor giant Pernod Ricard.  ANd you will note that every bottle of their scotch carries the name THE Glenlivet--as if to say that this is the "real McCoy" and the others are just imposters.

This, of course, is a matter of debate!

The whiskey should be perfectly safe.  Whiskey has such high alcohol levels that nothing really harmful can live in it.  At the same time, it doesn't really evolve in the bottle like wine.  SO it should be nice, but nothing out of this world.

Enjoy!

Paul Wagner