
May 13, 2016

Three indie Glen Elgin

Another distillery we’re not seeing very often. And yet, we’ve tried some sumptuous Glen Elgins in the past…

Glen Elgin 17 yo 1995/2013 (46%, Milroy's of Soho, hogshead, cask #1669, 348 bottles)

It’s not that we’re seeing Milroy’s much either, these days… Colour: straw. Nose: very malty, almost bready, with, yeah, some bread and touches of cardboard and beeswax. Behind that, some acidic fruits (green apples) and drops of plum eau-de-vie. A little sugarcane as well, a touch of paraffin. Mouth: in keeping with the nose, with first more sweet bread and malt, then some honeyed raisins, with a grassy background. A wee touch of wood smoke, perhaps. Finish: medium, malty, with some bitter green oak and oranges in the aftertaste. Comments: very fair and honest malt whisky from an excellent distillery. SGP:351 - 79 points.

Glen Elgin 23 yo 1990/2014 (49.2%, Signatory Vintage, bourbon, cask #7870, 189 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: same kind of profile, even more austere, grassier, with interesting hints of polished copper, old coins, old tin boxes, all that. Some hand cream as well, fresh almonds, a little shoe polish, and the thing that saves them all, lemon juice! In the background, a wee bourbonness, that is to say vanilla and coconut. Works well. Mouth (neat): very good! It reminds me of that thick big punchy blend called White Horse, which is not surprise since Glen Elgin always was at its core (you’re right, together with Lagavulin). Oily mouthfeel, grassy and herbal development, then waxy grapefruits and some almond oil. Very, very little vanilla and coconut, all for the better, Jasper. Finish: long, malty, with broken branches – so very fresh wood – and more oily goodness. Comments: perfect. Sure there’s no obvious and dominant aromas, no big peat, no sherry, no big fruitiness, and no vanilla crème, but as far as texture and balance are concerned, it rocks. SGP:451 - 88 points.

Glen Elgin 24 yo 1989/2014 (52.4%, Mackillop's Choice, 240 bottles)

The rather discreet Mackillop’s have bottled some of the best indie whiskies under their very, err, pleasantly unnoticeable label. Colour: gold. Nose: in the style of the Signatory, only a tad rounder and waxier, with less metallic and polishy notes. So rather beeswax and stewed fruits, plus some honey and, once again, a little hand cream. With water: the beeswax became flowers, which sometimes happens once you’ve added good water. It gets pretty nectary. Mouth (neat): same differences, it’s got more western fruits, apples, peaches, even pears… And peelings, more beeswax, pollen… Perhaps is it a little narrower than the excellent Signatory? With water: narrower but beautifully fruity. Apple pie covered with honey and custard. Tea time! Finish: medium, honeyed, fruity. Strawberry jam in the aftertaste/retro-olfaction. Comments: all very good once again. The thickish distillate shines through, I liked the Signatory’s greener style just a notch better. SGP:541 - 87 points.

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