Glengoyne 18 Years Old

Whisky Review

• Category: Highland single malt Scotch Whisky
• Origin: Glengoyne distillery
• Bottling: Ian Macleod, OB
• ABV: 43%
• Cost: £75 from Glengoyne distillery shop

What they say

Spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. This is the result of 18 long years and a generous proportion of first-fill sherry casks. And of the patience we take over the slowest distillation in Scotland.

Official tasting notes:

• Colour Medium gold with a rich glow.
• Nose Awash with red apple, ripe melon and fresh banana. Heavenly and well rounded, it drifts into hot porridge topped with brown sugar.
• Palate Full bodied, round and rich. At first macerated fruits, marzipan and walnuts; then warm spices, dry cocoa and lingering Seville marmalade.
• Finish Long, warm and dry.

What I say

Sampled during our Wee Tasting tour at Glengoyne distillery, prior to the live launch of the Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 6.

The 18 year old expression is exclusively matured in ex-sherry casks, including both 1st fill and refill casks, natural colour derived form cask maturation.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: dark bronze (13/20), slow, medium-fine, oily tears leave fine legs.
• Nose: Soft spices and suede leather, peach skin, apricot, apple, citrus lemon and dried orange peel, heather honey, malted barley, vanilla essence and oak wood.
• Taste: Creamy vanilla custard, fresh apple pie, mixed fruit peels, heather honey, some gentle spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, suede leather and oak wood.
• Finish: Long, malty, dried fruit peels and butter toffee.

Overall

A remarkably mature and well-balanced dram this one reveals itself slowly so demands you slow down and take time over it. Reserved and refined rather than a sherry bomb, 1st fill casks have been used carefully here and countered well with refill influences.

Score 86/100

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