
November 28, 2016

A hotchpotch of Glentauchers

No disrespect for the Distillery intended, but for many reasons, I have to speed up our sessions a little bit. There are so many new whiskies to try!

Glentauchers 21 yo 1992/2014 (52.7%, Duncan Taylor, Dimensions, cask #6045, 283 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: a rather chalky and mineral profile, with grapefruits and moist clay, as well as kiwis and grass. Clearly tense and quite acidulated. It’s a style that I enjoy. With water: more clay, and rather maracujas this time. Sharp, slightly unripe ones. Mouth (neat): hyper-lemony and chalky, this bites you properly and for good. Concentrated Muscadet? There’s even a feeling of lees indeed. With water: full of orange and grapefruit drops, on a bed of grass. Finish: medium, sharp, very lemony, with a salty touch in the aftertaste. Comments: very blade-y. SGP:561 - 84 points.

Glentauchers 18 yo 1996/2014 (48.8%, Chapter 7, cask #3609, bourbon, 173 bottles)

Colour: deep gold. Nose: same kind of profile, only with more oak presence, vanilla, and mango cream. Let’s say it’s more ‘tropical’. Some tobacco too. Mouth: same ultra-zesty style, this time with even a little antiseptic and tincture of iodine. Something slightly metallic, but that goes well with the mangos. Finish: long, with litres of limejuice. Comments: a very tart one, quite spectacular. More fulfilling than the 1992. SGP:651 - 87 points.

Glentauchers 18 yo 1996/2014 (51.9%, Whisky-Fässle, bourbon)

Colour: gold. Nose: much fruitier, with more bubblegum, and less acidic notes. So gentler and rounder, and less spectacular than the Chapter 7. With water: a little more earth, mushrooms, moss… Nothing abnormal after reduction. Mouth (neat): typical easy fruity and citrusy Glentauchers again. Many oranges, some grapefruit, a little barley sugar, and half a marshmallow. With water: same. Bonbons aplenty. Finish: medium, very fruity. Haribo’s jelly babies – yeah or crocodiles, as you like. Comments: easy and very good, as expected. SGP:651 - 85 points.

Glentauchers 19 yo 1996/2016 (47.2%, Le Gus’t, first fill bourbon, cask #4869105 bottles) Colour: pale gold. Nose: more in the style of the Chapter 7 again, that is to say earthier, rather deeper, and more tertiary, with some tobacco. Perhaps more bananas too. Very very nice. Mouth: super-zesty, this is almost some distilled white Sancerre. Bananas and soft pepper in the background, as well as hints of blackberries. A very peppery citrusness. Finish: rather long, ueber-sharp and angular. For lovers of cool climate white wine. Comments: a great bottle if you enjoy this ‘chiselled’ profile. SGP:651 - 87 points.

Glentauchers 1994/2012 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, licensed bottling)

Colour: straw. Nose: rather more ‘mainstream’ than the others, and that’s not only the lower strength. Barley, cigarettes, pine cones, assorted nuts, then indeed touches of oranges and passion fruits. Autumn leaves. This is a rather subtle and delicate nose. Mouth: more in the style of the others, that is to say more tropical, citrusy, fresh, but this time there’s also a little eucalyptus. And, perhaps, even a little myrtle. This little baby has got things to say! Finish: medium, a little spicier. Pepper and always a lovely mossy side. Some caraway as well. Comments: I had forgotten how good this line was. And the price is/was very fair! Excellent value. SGP:561 - 86 points.

Time to try a sherried one…

Glentauchers 8 yo 2008/2016 (50%, The Whisky Barrel, Burns Malt, butt, cask # #900184)

Colour: amber bronze. Nose: a rather lovely metallic and tobacco-ish sherry, with whiffs of an old engine, roasted chestnuts, quality bacon (not Calmac’s ;-)), and dry cocoa powder. Then rather mulberries, prunes, and very wee hints of orange squash. With water: some coal and some old tools, long forgotten in the basement. Saltpetre, musty walls… Mouth (neat): rather perfect, pleasantly sour and gingery, with, well, sour fruits, sloe, rowan berries… And some walnutty chocolate. With water: becomes easier. A lot of Seville oranges, plus pepper and ginger. Very nice combination. Finish: long and a little more citric. It’s the zestiness that already was in all the others that’s starting to talk. Comments: as they say, one can go far without having lived long. SGP:462 - 87 points.