Glentauchers 1996 Distillery Labels (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, 2016)
Whisky Review
- Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
- Origin: Glentauchers Distillery
- Bottling: Gordon & Macphail; Distillery Labels collection
- ABV: 43%
- Cost: £49.83
What they say:
In partnership with each respective distillery, all whiskies in our ‘Distillery Labels’ range are uniquely labelled. In years gone by many of these unique designs were used ‘officially’ to bottle the whisky under license from the distillery. Today these trusted relationships with distillers enables Gordon & MacPhail to bottle whiskies at various ages, strengths and vintages – all with their unique distillery label.
The Glentauchers Distillery Company started as a joint venture between James Buchanan, the creator of the “Black & White” and “Buchanan” blends, and WP Lowrie. The distillery was designed by local architect, John Alcock. In 1925 James Buchanan & Company became part of the Distillers Company Limited (DCL). Glentauchers worked continuously, with exception of the war years, until mothballed in 1985. In 1989 it was sold to Allied Distillers who restarted production. Glentauchers is a key component in Allied Domceq’s Blended Scotch Whisky brands.
COLOUR
Dark Gold.
Body
Medium.
Finish
Medium with a rich chocolate edge.
Cask Type
First fill Sherry butts.
Style
Elegant Speyside dram
Tasting Note
AROMA without water
Light Sherry influences with stewed apple and candied fruit aromas. Rich praline chocolate and toasted hazelnut notes develop.
TASTE without water
Chilli spice initially with red apple, orange peel, and dark chocolate flavours. A delicate liquorice edge develops.
AROMA with water
Fresh with grapefruit and lemon citrus aromas, cut grass, and kiwi complement a subtle hint of ginger.
TASTE with water
White pepper with red apple, cocoa butter, and hints of honey. A charred oak flavour to finish.
What I say:
A ~ 20 year old Glentaucher’s bottled under Gordon & MacPhail’s Distillery Labels range, matured in 1st fill sherry butts. Thanks to Gordon & MacPhail for providing a sample as part of their ‘Wood Makes The Whisky’ campaign highlighting the influence of wood maturation on their own whisky stocks.
Colour:
Light amber gold (7/20), numerous fine tears with medium legs
Nose:
Sweet caramel, toffee, varnish/polish, beeswax, malty and gristy cereal barley, slightly biscuit, tart apple and pineapple, ginger, biscoff, vanilla and a hint of copper
Taste:
Medium-bodied, Tart fruits, pineapple, fig, damson, cereal barley malt, grist, biscuit, hint of ginger spice, polished highland toffee, woody spice, a hint of tobacco leaf/cigar smoke, chilli spice or Szechuan pepper heat.
Finish:
Long, spiced apple, a hint of toffee and drying cinnamon spice
Overall:
Coppery and spiced with pineapple and toffee, interesting and warming but I have had much better Glentauchers of similar age from G&M. There is some very nice touches here of both aged spirit and mature wood notes though it can be a little spicy in places.
Score: 84/100
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Categories: Glentauchers, Speyside
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