The Glenlivet 18 Year Old “Unhurried Since 1824”
70cl / 43%
£159.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Speyside
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1990s/Seagram-era 18-year-old Glenlivet at 43%, carrying the “Unhurried Since 1824” strapline and showing the distillery’s classic mature Speyside style.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | The Glenlivet, Speyside, Scotland |
| Category | Single malt Scotch whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 18 Years Old / 1990s bottling (Seagram era) |
| ABV & Size(s) | 43% ABV / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Matured in a mix of American oak (first and second fill) and ex-sherry oak, in line with 18yo house spec |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Not stated by the producer |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (core-premium of its time) |
| Intended channel | Premium/specialist retail and export |
| Packaging | 1990s Glenlivet packaging with the slogan “Unhurried Since 1824”; bottle embossed/labelled accordingly |
| Notes on discrepancies | Must be distinguished from the current 40% Glenlivet 18 in modern packaging; this one is the older 43% “Unhurried” version |
Historical Context
In the 1990s, when Glenlivet was under Seagram, the 18-year-old occupied the clear premium slot above the widely available 12. The line “Unhurried Since 1824” was used to link the age statement to the distillery’s foundation as the first licensed Speyside in 1824. That tagline appears on period bottlings and is now a useful identifier for collectors separating 1990s stock from current 18yo bottlings. The 1990s version was bottled at 43% rather than the 40% found on many modern listings, and that strength, plus the older dressing, makes it the more desirable of the two for people building a Glenlivet timeline.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
2.1 Documented variants
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The Glenlivet 18 Year Old “Unhurried Since 1824”, 43%, 70cl, 1990s.
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The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (no “Unhurried” strapline), 40%, 70cl, current production.
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Market-specific 18yo bottlings at 40% with similar cask narrative but different outer cartons.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43% | 70cl | 1990s/Seagram | “Unhurried Since 1824” on label | Highest |
| 40% | 70cl | Current EU/UK | Modern carton, no 1990s strapline | Core modern |
| 40% | 70cl | Selected EU retail | “Batch Reserve” style descriptions | Parallel, price-led |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Label must show 18 years old and reference to 1824 / “Unhurried Since 1824”.
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Strength should read 43%; this is the easiest way to tell it from many present-day 40% bottles.
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Bottle should be 70cl.
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Carton condition strongly affects value because this is positioned as a premium-age Speyside.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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18 Years Old is a legal age statement.
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Married in mixed casks (American and ex-sherry), as per official site for current 18; the 1990s bottling followed the same broad recipe.
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No claims of natural colour or NCF should be added.
Liquid Profile (period-aligned)
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Nose: Honey-rich Speyside, ripe orchard fruits, toffee, citrus zest, some sherry-derived dried fruits and light spice.
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Palate: Elegant, medium-bodied, layered vanilla and toffee from American oak, orange peel and raisins from sherry oak, with a good malty core; 43% gives it presence.
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Finish: Long, clean, gently drying oak, citrus, and sweet malt.
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With water: A dash opens the sherry side and softens the oak.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Original RRP (1990s): Not stated by the producer.
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Current UK retail for modern 18yo (40%): typically £85–£105, which forms the lower benchmark.
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Vintage/older 43% “Unhurried” stock is typically listed higher by specialist and collector-facing sites; a realistic working retail band is £150–£200 depending on carton and condition.
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Auction range tends to sit below modern retail, so a 1990s 43% bottle without box could clear closer to £90–£130.
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Pricing stratification: boxed 43% “Unhurried” at top; unboxed 43% in the middle; modern 40% at the bottom.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK specialist (vintage) | Recent | 18yo, 43%, “Unhurried Since 1824”, boxed | 150–200 | Condition-led |
| UK whisky auction | Recent | 18yo, 43%, no box | 90–130 | Typical hammer corridor |
| UK retail (modern 18yo) | Current | 18yo, 40%, current carton | 85–105 | Modern benchmark only |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
The Glenlivet is a flagship Speyside whose 18-year-old has consistently been pitched as complex, balanced and suitable for gifting. The 1990s “Unhurried” version shows the brand in the Seagram era, at 43%, and with more old-school dressing than the present bottle.
Sourcing
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Target: 43%, 70cl, “Unhurried Since 1824” clearly printed, box in good order.
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Avoid: modern 40% versions being passed off as the older 43%.
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Buy nearer the 100–130 GBP level if unboxed, list nearer 170–200 GBP boxed.
