January 13, 2014

Two Glen Keith

Glen Keith is another name that's been much invigorated by the indies in recent years. Anybody remembering the old official 10yo or the 1983 bearing the same livery will understand what I mean.

Glen Keith 21 yo 1992/2013 (52.1%, Silver Seal and Lion's Whisky, 115 bottles)

A brand new joint bottling by these two Italian friends. I've already heard great comments but I do not want to be influenced (to much). Colour: gold. Nose: maybe it's the colour, but I cannot not think of some kind of oak-aged mirabelle eau-de-vie, with this very elegant and very peculiar fruitiness. After that, some kind of discreet smoke and grass - well, grass smoke - and tangerine liqueur, with a mineral side that brings a great foundation. Also a little leaven, vanilla, butter crème, freshly squeezed orange juice and just touches of gueuze beer. With water: more hay and sweet apple juice. Barley water, marzipan... Lovely! Mouth (neat): high fruits and vanilla, with a style that I sometimes find in the best Arrans or, for that matter, ex-bourbon Amruts or Kavalans. Butterscotch and raisins plus marmalade and ripe plums, as well as a little grapefruit and honey. Works very well. With water: perfect. A few more spices, esp. cinnamon. Finish: long, quite creamy, rather drier. More cinnamon, also a little brown sugar. Comments: perfect within this style. A slightly less dry finish and I may have gone to 90. SGP:641 - 89 points.

Glen Keith 19 yo 1993/2012 (55.4%, A.D. Rattray, bourbon hogshead, cask #97114, 288 bottles)

Colour: straw. Nose: minerality and grassiness up, fruitiness down. You got it, it's a more austere version of Glen Keith, certainly less easy/sexy, but maybe that's the higher strength. Let's see... With water: same, with maybe more lemon peel and a little cinchona. Mouth (neat): we're much closer to the 1992, only with less vanilla again and rather more lemon, then grass and raw barley. Works very well. With water: a lovely earthy side comes out. Fresh mushrooms as well. Finish: long, with white pepper and touches of ginger. Comments: excellent once again, it's just a little less 'full' than the 1992, with a pepper that's pretty big in the finish and aftertaste. SGP:451 - 87 points.

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

Pete McPeat and Jack Washback