Glenkinchie

Glenkinchie Distillery

Glenkinchie-12-Years-Old-single-malt-scotch-whisky

History Glenkinchie lies, as the name might suggest, in a glen of the Kinchie Burn near the village of Pencaitland, East Lothian. It is situated about 15 miles from Edinburgh. The distillery is set in farmland. The name ‘Kinchie’ is a corruption of ‘De Quincy’, the original owners of the land. Its origins date back to around 1825 when it was founded by brothers John and George Rate. While there are no direct records it seems likely that Glenkinchie is the Milton Distillery previous recorded in the area. The brothers probably renamed it in about 1837. In 1969 the distillery stopped malting its own grain and the malting floors were turned into a museum of malt whisky. The Glenkinchie label was relatively little known until 1989, when United Distillers started marketing it under their Classic Malts brand.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Glenkinchie distillery handfill Glenkinchie 9 Years Old 2009 Distillery Exclusive (2021) - Dry and woody sweetness, primarily cask-derived initially then some interesting and green tropical fruit notes from Glenkinchie's spirit. Fascinating to try something cask strength from here. 86/100
  • Glenkinchie-10-Years-Old-Whisky Glenkinchie 10 Years Old (2018) - The original Classic Malts 10 year old release from Glenkinchie. Discontinued in 2007 and replaced by a 12 year old. 79/100
  • Glenkinchie-12-Years-Old-single-malt-scotch-whisky Glenkinchie 12 Years Old (2013) - Very delicate and often looses out to some of the more complex whiskies I have. However over time I have grown to appreciate this more and more. Yes it is very drinkable but maybe a bit tame for my tastes. A good dram to have in the collection to offer to visitors though as it is inoffensive and the local malt. I would like to try the Distillers edition or perhaps more aged or finished versions of this malt. 67/100
  • glenkinchie-12-year-old-whisky Glenkinchie 12 Years Old (2018) - The ‘standard’ 12 year old bottling from the Lowland Glenkinchie Distillery. With a little more to it than I remember. 83/100
  • glenkinchie-12-year-old-whisky Glenkinchie 12 Years Old (2018) - For completeness we dug this 2014 bottled Glenkinchie 12 out of the archives and find it sits somewhere between the previous two we have tried. 82/100
  • glenkinchie-12-year-old-whisky Glenkinchie 12 Years Old (2021) - True to the cereal, fruit and floral nature, everything in moderation and pleasant. 83/100
  • glenkinchie-1999-bottled-2012-amontillado-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Glenkinchie 1999 Distillers Edition (2016) - Glenkinchie 1999 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, G/285-7-D, 2012) Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Glenkinchie Distillery Bottling: Diageo; Distillers Edition ABV: 43% Cost: £55.84 What they say: After mellowing in a […]
  • glenkinchie-2000-bottled-2014-amontillado-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Glenkinchie 2000 Distillers Edition (2020) - Glenkinchie 2000 Distillers Edition Whisky Review: Strikes a nice balance between sweet and dry, some woody spices and a good texture help, not as boring as some Glenkinchie can be. 84/100
  • glenkinchie-2004-bottled-2016-amontillado-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Glenkinchie 2004 Distillers Edition (2018) - Perhaps a difference in the Amontillado sherry casks used for maturation or a result of the slightly newer style of Glenkicnhie spirit we are finding? This expression was much more woody, grassy and chewier on the palate which definitely improves the experience when compared to the previous 1999 Distillers Edition we had sampled. 87/100
  • Glenkinchie-DO-2016 Glenkinchie 2016 Distillery Only (2018) - A Distillery Only available limited edition bottling of Glenkinchie, 6,000 bottles were released in 2016. A more tannic and spicy alternative to the standard bottlings. 85/100
  • glenkinchie-tattoo-edition Glenkinchie Tattoo Edition (2021) - Fuller and more flavoured than the standard 12 year old and the addition of some extra fruity notes adds substance where often I find it to be lacking or a bit thin at least. Perhaps the delivery at 46% ABV has really helped here. 84/100
Independent Bottling
Cadenhead
  • glenkinchie-28-year-old-1987-cadenheads-ac Glenkinchie 28 Years Old 1987 Authentic Collection (2016) - Glenkinchie 28 Years Old 1987 Authentic Collection (53.3%, WM Cadenhead, Bourbon HH, 240 bottles, 2016) Whisky Review Category: Lowland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Glenkinchie Distillery Bottling: Cadenheads; Authentic Collection ABV: 53.3% […]