Glen Garioch Virgin Oak (48%, OB, 2013)

• Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Glen Garioch distillery
• 48% ABV,
• £65 for 70cl
• Score: 79/100

What they say:

48% ABV Bottled: 2013 Cask: Virgin North American Oak

The very first release of Glen Garioch fully matured in virgin North American white oak casks is unlike anything you have ever tasted.

A velvet explosion of rich buttery malt, chocolate and spice. Tangy orange and ginger marmalade melds with treacle syrup and rich chocolate cake, leading to a long and warming finish of barley sugar and spice.

What I say:

Glen Garioch is one of those distilleries that I never quite got round to tasting despite coming across various expressions in various locations, there was always something more instantly appealing or intriguing. Bizarrely enough the first expression I did try from Glen Garioch was a 1978 vintage bottled exclusively for Milroy’s of Soho, which I had the pleasure of drinking during their hosted tweet tasting (read all about that here: Milroy’s of Soho Tweet Tasting 2). Whilst attending the Whisky Stramash in Edinburgh on Saturday May 24th 2014, I had the pleasure of sampling this virgin oak/no-age statement expression from Glen Garioch – a whisky which many of my confederates highly rated.

Colour:

Yellow gold

Nose:

Sweet vanilla custard, pear drops, lemon and lime citrus zest, honey, fruity, oranges and apples.

Taste:

Sweet honey and cereal barley, fruity slightly acidic fizz (though surprisingly not green oaky wood), lemon and grapefruit fizz and lemon foam, lemon barley sugars

Finish:

Short sweet and acidic citrus zest

Would I buy it:

I found this Glen Garioch very sweet but quite enjoyable. I was surprised how well the spirit had matured in virgin oak and had managed to avoid a lot of the acridity and acidity associated with fresh green wood; if anything it add a spicy citrus zestiness that was refreshing but grew a little too sweet for my liking. Considering the price tag and my flavour preference I am unlikely to rush out to buy one but I can easily see why my peers raved about this particular expression.