
September 17, 2018

Some Glengoyne

Glengoyne Distillery, a lovely place to visit, not only when you’re staying in Edinburgh. I also remember these nice ads they were running in the very early 2000s, but they did not keep them for long. I suppose they may have gotten a letter from Zuffenhausen, Germany.

Glengoyne ‘Balbaina’ (43%, OB, 2018)

Yeah well, no age statement, a funny name, a finish in sherry, and a travel retail exclusive. What could (cough, cough) go wrong? No we won’t try to check what Balbaina means, perhaps someone’s first girlfriend? Colour: gold. Nose: well, nothing really wrong here, it’s a classic malty dram, with touches of burnt raisins and cakes, some vanilla, hints of roasted nuts and a spoonful of good marmalade. Nice citrus (pink grapefruit, perhaps?) Mouth: I find it really good, and again, extremely classic, with raisins, dried figs, bananas and pears, a bit of toasted oak, the obligatory walnuts, a mild spiciness that would rather involve cinnamon and cloves this time, and more toasted cake. Pancakes and maple syrup. Finish: quite long, rather toffee-ish and caramely. They seem to have pushed the oak a bit. Comments: all good, I think, one that won’t disappoint air travellers. It’s all-roundness should work well in travel retail indeed.
SGP:551 - 84 points.

And perhaps a few indies now?

Glengoyne 21 yo 1996/2018 (49.5%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, cask # #12388, 211 bottles)

Colour: straw/pale gold. Nose: less sherry this time, rather notes of fruit eaux-de-vie such as kirsch or plum, quite a lot of almonds (which is characteristic of stone fruit eau-de-vie indeed), orgeat, some very remote vanilla, and a little shortbread. Not extremely expressive, I would say, but pretty elegant. The OB was much more aromatic, but that was the sherry. Mouth: it’s as if there was a little sherry this time, also some baked butter (tarte tatin or kouign-amann style, that’s a Breton cake that’s ridden with butter). Good maltiness, cakes, also cereals, Golden Grahams… Finish: medium, really very cake-y. More tarte tatin. Comments: similar quality. Very good, pretty classic malt whisky.
SGP:551 - 84 points.

Glengoyne 20 yo 1996/2017 (50%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, cask # #11629, 287 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: very similar, but even closer to eaux-de-vie, in a rather beautiful manner. Another one that you could almost call ‘barley eau-de-vie’. Right, barley aqua vitae. Cherries and almonds. With water: a little soap that would then go away, as often, and a soft barleyness. Oatcake and shortbread. Mouth (neat): I really enjoy this feeling of fruit spirit aged in proper wood. Lovely lemon here as well. With water: perfect clean, malty dram, all on cereals and anything derived. Roasted nuts as well, cakes, speculoos… Finish: medium, very clean, malty and cake-y. Comments: I know no one who would not enjoy this rather perfect – even if a tad simple – natural malt whisky.
SGP:551 - 86 points.

Let’s see what else we have…

Glengoyne 18 yo 1997/2016 (52.1%, Gleann Mor, A Rare Find, 243 bottles)

Glengoyne 18 yo 1997/2016 (52.1%, Gleann Mor, A Rare Find, 243 bottles)
Not a bottler we’re seeing very often. Master of Malt have them… Colour: gold. Nose: another very cake-y one, but this time we’re rather closer to the officials’ usual style. A lot of butterscotch, roasted almonds, popcorn, toffee… With water: a little leather, walnut and tobacco, which suggests some sherry’s been in use at some point. Mouth (neat): really very good. Oranges, white pepper, croissants au beurre, brioche, honey roasted cashews, malt… With water: even better while it got smoother and rounder. Some kind of liquid Mars bar, but with much less sugar. Finish: rather long, honeyed, cake-y, malty. Comments: one to sip at tea time at The Balmoral. Thought it was excellent.
SGP:561 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Glengoyne we've tasted so far