The Girvan Patent Still 30 Years Old 2014 ~42.6% (William Grant & Sons Ltd.)

42.6% ABV, £374.95 available from Master of Malt

Score: 84/100

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What they say:

The Girvan Patent Still continuous distillation method takes the finest cereal grains to produce a very pure, fruity and clean-tasting grain spirit, which is lighter in aroma and character than most malt whiskies.

Slow, gentle maturation in American Oak barrels adds richness and complexity – notes of vanilla, zesty fruit and woody spiced finish – for a taste experience unlike other whiskies.

Bottled without the addition of caramel, and non-chill filtered, the natural golden colour shines through.

It is quite simply Deliciously Different.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt

Nose: Floral honey, home-made vanilla ice cream, toffee pennies and dried sultanas. Old oak sits at the centre.

Palate: Up front we’re treated to fried bananas drizzled with honey, juicy peaches and oodles of vanilla. Rich nutty notes follow on, as does spiced oak and Victoria Sponge Cake.

Finish: Long and full of all the great stuff that came before, the vanilla and oak standing out amongst it all.

Overall: Staggeringly good grain whisky from Girvan.

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What I say:

The 4th and final sample from the #GirvanGrain Tweet Tasting hosted by Steve Rush @The WhiskyWire, @GirvanGrain and William Grant & Sons Global Whisky Specialist Kevin Abrook @KevinAbrook. Kevin pointed out that this whisky was distilled during the last year that maize was used in the mashbill at The Girvan Patent Still.

Colour:

Yellow gold

Nose:

Tropical mango, pineapple, perfumed Turkish delight, syrup and honey sweet, creamy toasted coconut

Taste:

Dried mango, pineapple upside-down cake with golden syrup, apple & rose & elderflower blossom/cordial, vanilla

Finish:

Medium-long oak wood and vanilla

Would I buy it:

I actually preferred the 25 year old expression a little more than this 30 year old. A distinctly tropical flavour had started to develop and some underlying differences in the new make may have resulted from the mashbill perhaps. Still this was a very good single grain expression that is more than a match for many single malt whiskies available. Again a little pricey, I would probably recommend the 25 year old over this…