Glenlossie 18 Years Old 1995 Connoisseurs Choice 46% (Gordon & MacPhail)

• 46% ABV,
• £39.95
• Score: 90/100

What they say:

Glenlossie Distillery is sited, not far from Elgin, nestling under the cover of a fir clad hill. Its site enables the waters running from the Mannoch Hills to collect in a reservoir just South of the distillery. The distillery was established by a local publician, John Duff, who had previously been manager at Glendronach Distillery. It was expanded 20 years later and in 1962 extended further with the addition of a further two stills. Although the distillery buildings have retained a traditional feel, the Glenlossie site has been extensively developed. As well as cask warehousing that can hold 38.5 million litres of alcohol and a dark grains plant, in 1971 Mannochmore Distillery was built.

INFORMATION
Region: Speyside. Thomshill, Nr Elgin.

Founded: 1876.

Water Source:  Bardon Burn.

Owner: Diageo.

Status: Operational.

Colour: Dark Gold.
WITHOUT WATER: Nose: Sweet Sherry influences with toffee, apple and pear aromas. Hints of charred oak and beeswax linger. Palate: Cracked black pepper initially with pineapple, grapefruit and dark chocolate flavours. Becomes creamy with a touch of nutmeg.
WITH WATER: Nose: Ripe banana, coconut and orange peel aromas initially. Complimented by charred oak and menthol notes. Palate: Very sweet with orange, strawberry and plum flavours. These combine with hints of salted caramel and hazelnut.
Body: Medium. Finish: Medium in length, with sweet fruit elements. Cask Type(s): 1st Fill Sherry Hogsheads. Whisky Style: Sherried Speyside dram.

What I say:

This was my pick of the Edinburgh Whisky Stramash 2014. Despite a lot of good and many great whiskies available to taste at this event, this 18 year old sherried Glenlossie really made an impression on me.

Colour:

Golden caramel

Nose:

Sweet honey and golden syrup, fruity apple, pear, strawberry, plum, toffee and caramel, hints of spices/savoury notes, malty barley, polished leather shoes

Taste:

Zingy pepper spice on fruity strawberry and pineapple, banana and coconut, maraschino cherries, orange and grapefruit zest, old suede leather, caramac, nutty pecan and hazelnut, hints of maple syrup, milk chocolate and salted caramel, slightly waxy/oily in mouthfeel

Finish:

Medium, fruity sweet, slightly vaporous with some darker tannins and oaked wood elements linger

Overall:

What a beauty of a dram, this has everything, a  little zingy spice to keep it rolling along and then a beautiful balance of subtly tannic fruit and nutty creamy unmistakably caramac. I could drink this at any occasion, more please!