December 29, 2014

Three Glen Garioch. Almost a tradition.

I thought we could do another short ‘consecutive’ Glen Garioch verticale today. Expect apples.

Glen Garioch 22 yo 1991/2013 (52.9%, Whisky-Doris, bourbon hogshead, cask #5754, 259 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: it’s a rather mineral and waxy one at first nosing, then we find more wild flowers as well as a little burnt wood. At the fruit department, the expected apples and one small orange. A little sawdust. With water: more barley sugar, honey, sweet oak, vanilla… Mouth (neat): creamy and fruity, with a few bubblegums and marshmallows, then more apples and oranges, then a little green tea. A little lemon as well, some leaves… It’s right between the fruity ones and the grassy ones, so I’d say it’s balanced. With water: the fruits win. Finish: quite long, with a wee phenolic side. Maybe some camphor. Comments: impeccable modern-era Glen Garioch (i.e. virtually unpeated). SGP:551 - 88 points.

Glen Garioch 23 yo 1990 (51.4%, Highland Laird, Bartels Rawlings, +/-2014)

Highland Laird is a fairly new line, the bottler being located in the UK. Colour: gold. Nose: a few buttery and vinegary notes flying around at first nosing, but it all gets much cleaner and fruitier after just three seconds. It’s similar to the 1991, actually, only with more vanilla, cake, then oranges, orange blossom… With water: gets sauvignony. Works very well, and it’s great to find a different early-1990s Glen Garioch. Mouth (neat): rather unusual, with more pepper and aromatic herbs than normal, such as thyme and rosemary. A touch of butter once again, sour apples, vanilla, honey, tarragon… It was an unusual cask for sure. A little pu-erh tea. With water: always this earthy side. Finish: quite long, mentholated and earthy, with a little burnt butter in the aftertaste. Even some bacon, smoke. Comments: a different one that loves water. SGP:462 - 86 points.

Glen Garioch 25 yo 1989/2014 (50.3%, The Whisky Agency, refill hogshead, 246 bottles)

Colour: pale gold. Nose: this one’s very fresh and fruity, it’s certainly a grand one. A beautiful basket full of apples, oranges, peaches, melons… On top of that, one mint leave, a few drops of olive oil, a spoonful of honey and a little grated coconut. Perfect. With water: fab. Earthy teas and tobacco, in all fruity lightness. Whiffs of old books. A little iron (or old tin box). Mouth (neat): really very perfect. Same fresh fruits plus a very discreet metallic touch and a little more honey. The fruity combination is also a tad more citrusy than on the nose. With water: excellent. There must have been some old Chinese tea of high quality in that barrel. Finish: medium long, earthy, leafy. A touch of marzipan and liquorice in the aftertaste. Comments: simply lovely and very entertaining. SGP:562 - 89 points.

As expected, closely grouped fire!

Check the index of all Glen Garioch I've tasted so far

Pete McPeat and Jack Washback