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Glen Garioch
Region: Highlands
District: Eastern
Glen Garioch (pronounced "Glen Gerrie") is an assemblage
of gray granite buildings located in a small glen near Aberdeen.
It has been producing whisky, though sometimes sporadically, since
1797. It is quite traditional, still producing its own maltings.
It produces a peaty, smoky whisky that takes one back to an earlier
time when such whiskies were quite common in the Highlands. Though
quite traditional in the way it produces whisky, it has been recognized
for technological innovations that recycle its waste heat to warm
its greenhouses, where flowers and vegetables are grown and ripened--
including 150 tons of tomatoes a year.
8 year old
Proof 86
Color Pale amber.
Nose Fresh, clean, and perfumy. Some sweetness and a hint of peat.
Body Medium to full.
Palate Medium-dry. Rich, raisiny, with a touch of peat.
Finish Medium-long and spicy.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Medium amber.
Nose Medium body, some smoke, a hint of flowers, with a touch
of peat and sweetness.
Body Medium to full.
Palate Some spice and sweetness, with traces of peat. The taste
lingers to reveal floral notes near the peak.
Finish Medium-long and spicy. A warming sensation completes the
finish.
15 year old
Proof 86
Color Full gold.
Nose Medium body, some smoke, a hint of flowers, with a touch
of peat. Quite aromatic.
Body Medium to full.
Palate Some sweetness, with traces of peat. The taste lingers
to reveal floral notes near the peak.
Finish Very long and spicy. A warming sensation completes the
finish.
21 year old
Proof 86
Color Dark gold.
Nose Medium body.
Body Medium to full.
Palate Full, with sweetness and some peatiness.
Finish Lots of smoke. Some spice and oakiness. Lingering.
Glen Moray
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside (Lossie)
Glen Moray Distillery was established in 1897 on a site which
was famous for its water quality and which had been occupied by
a brewery since the 1700s. The buildings located on two sides
of the distillery's central courtyard date from that time. The
bottles are sometimes packaged in a series of attractive tins,
decorated with the livery of various Highland regiments. It is
located near Elgin, "the gateway to Speyside."
12 year old
Proof 86
Color Pale gold.
Nose Fresh mown grass, hay, trace of smoke, cereal grain.
Body Smooth and light.
Palate Bold. Fresh, clean and a trace of barley. Excellent balance.
Finish Balanced, clean, fresh and dry.
Glen Scotia
Region: Campbeltown
District: null
At one time, Glen Scotia was one of thirty-two distilleries in
the Campbeltown region of Scotland. Today, it is one of only two
distilleries that remain in this one-time "whisky capital"
of Scotland. Glen Scotia Distillery was founded about 1832 and
has had several owners. In some bottlings, it has a heavier and
stronger flavor than the other Campbeltown malt, Springbank. It
also has a hint of oiliness that is not prevelant in the Springbank.
This could be due to the practice of separately distilling the
foreshoots and feints and the extra distilling step that Springbank
adds.
8 year old
Proof 80
Color Deep gold.
Nose A touch of smoke, with some salt and sweetness. The aroma
is quite intense on occasion.
Body Deceptively round and smooth.
Palate Salty, with some oiliness. Full and well-rounded, with
peat notes.
Finish Lingering and dry.
14 year old
Proof 80
Color Light gold.
Nose Clean and aromatic. Some salt and sweetness.
Body Round and smooth. Some oiliness.
Palate Salty, with some oiliness. Dry and a hint of peat.
Finish Lingering.
Glendronach
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Glendronach Distillery is located about five miles northeast
of Huntly. Up until 1993, it produced two versions of its excellent
malt. A sherry cask matured version, as well as a bottling that
was matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon and plain oak
casks. The latter was referred to as "Original" while
the other version had the statement, "matured in sherry casks",
on the label. In both bottlings, the Glendronach malt is rich
and sweet, with malt coming through. Currently available is the
"Original" and the "Traditional" bottlings,
as well as an 18-year-old. The Glendronach makes a significant
contribution to the popular, teacher's blended whisky that may
contain up to 60 percent single malts, which is very high. One
can still find, on occasion, a bottle of the sherry-matured Glendronach
on the store shelves--but not for long. The just-released, and
much anticipated, fifteen-year-old, all sherry cask matured Glendronach
will be well received by the lover of sherry cask matured malts.
Its amber, deep golden color seems to have imprisoned a Scotland
late winter evening sunset. It is encouraging to see yet another
industry response to the Scotch single malt connoisseur's desire.
12 year old, Original
Proof 86
Color Golden
Nose Medium-dry, with some sherry and malt. Some hint of smoke.
Body Medium and smooth.
Palate Dry and malty, with faint sherry. Some hint of smoke, peat.
Full and clean.
Finish Full, but clean, with fruitiness. Clean and lingering.
Some perfume and spice.
12 year old, Traditional
Proof 86
Color Amber
Nose Dry, with some sherry, malt and honey notes.
Body Medium to full, and smooth.
Palate Rich, smooth and obvious sherry. Some wood and peat.
Finish Long, with spice and some smoke at the end.
15 year old
Proof 80
Color Red; reddish-gold.
Nose Full. Lot of sherry with some spice and smoke.
Body Full, round and smooth with oak and vanilla.
Palate Sherry with some peat.
Finish Lots of sherry. Long and lingering.
18 year old
Proof 86
Color Dark amber.
Nose Medium-dry, with lots of sherry. Hint of smoke.
Body Medium and smooth.
Palate Dry and malty, with sherry. Burnt toffee and oakiness.
Finish Full, but clean. Warming, with toffee.
Glenesk
Region: Highlands
District: Eastern
Originally a flax mill, this facility became Glenesk Distillery
in 1897. It also served as a grain distillery from the 1940s until
sometime in the 1960s. The original name of this distillery was
'Highland Esk'. One can still see its name spelled Glen Esk, from
time to time. This single malt is quite difficult to obtain. In
fact, in ten trips to Scotland over the past three years, I have
been unable to locate an "official" bottling for my
collection. This "Connoisseurs Choice" private bottling
represents the distillery's reputation quite well, however.
13 year old
Proof 80
Color Pale gold.
Nose Dry and light, with flowery notes and some sweetness.
Body Medium, but soft.
Palate Some sweetness, soft, with traces of maltiness and some
fruity tones.
Finish Clean, with medium length. With patience, this malt will
yield more character than is first suggested. Clean, malty and
dry.
Glenfarclas
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Glenfarclas Distillery was built in 1836 by a tenant farmer by
the name of Robert Hay. It is located on the moors at the foot
of the Ben Rinnes Mountain where the Avon and Spey Rivers meet.
This very modern and fine distillery offers a wide variety of
ages in their single malts, which can provide for some very enlightening
tasting experiences. The age offerings usually include 10, 12,
15, 21, 25 and 30 year-old malts. In addition, one can find a
cask-strength, 120 proof version known as Glenfarclas 105 or 104.
The distillery is well-suited for visitors and has a most appealing
Visitor's Center and educational tour. The spirit is matured largely
in sherry casks. In fact, all new Glenfarclas spirit is now being
matured in sherry casks. Some of the Glenfarclas states that the
malt is not chill-filtered before bottling. The full-body character
seems to bear this out. Glenfarclas is a distillery that seems
to be aware of the single malt connoisseur.
8-10 year old, 105 Cask Strength
Proof 86
Color Dark amber.
Nose Full, with more sherry and smoke. Some oak.
Body Full and firm.
Palate Very full, bold, and round. Some sweet and malty notes,
with a hint of oak, peat and smoke.
Finish Exceptionally long. Some woodiness, spice and sweetness.
10 year old
Proof 80
Color Light gold.
Nose Full, with some sherry, smoke and fruit.
Body Full
Palate Full and round, with malty notes.
Finish Long, with some spice and sweetness.
12 year old
Proof 86
Color Light gold.
Nose Full, with some sherry, smoke and fruit. A bit drier than
the 10 year-old.
Body Full, firm and a trace of oil.
Palate Full and round, with malty notes and some peat and smoke.
Finish Long and smooth, with some spice and sweetness.
15 year old
Proof 86
Color Medium gold or amber.
Nose Full, with more sherry. Some smoke and fruit. Excellent bouquet.
Body Full, firm and well-rounded.
Palate Full, bold and round with excellent balance. Some sweet
and malty notes, with peat and smoke.
Finish Long and smooth, with some spice and sweetness.
21 year old
Proof 86
Color Medium gold or amber.
Nose Full, with more sherry and smoke. Some smoke and oak.
Body Full, firm and well-rounded.
Palate Very full, bold and round, with excellent balance. Some
sweet and malty notes, with a hint of peat and smoke.
Finish Exceptionally long and smooth, with some spice and sweetness.
25 year old
Proof 86
Color Dark amber.
Nose Full, with more sherry and smoke. Some smoke and some oak.
Body Full and firm.
Palate Very full, bold and round, with excellent balance. Some
sweet and malty notes, with a hint of oak, peat and smoke.
Finish Exceptionally long. Some woodiness, spice and sweetness.
Glenfiddich
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Glenfiddich may be the best known single malt in the world, though
Glenlivet will argue the point. It maintains about a 30% world
market share for malt whisky. The "early" and brave
decision in 1963 to aggressively market its whisky worldwide as
a single malt was unprecedented. Glenfiddich Distillery was founded
in 1886-87 and is still owned by the original founding family.
The whisky is considered to be light, uncomplicated and smooth,
which appeals to the average palate. The serious single malt connoisseur
may find it somewhat boring, but it makes an excellent beginner's
malt. Contrary to most single malts, Glenffidich carries no age
statement; it is thought to be bottled at 8 years of age, however.
The casks used to mature the Glenfiddich are chiefly plain oak,
with about 10% being sherry casks. Glenfiddich made the marketing
of whisky an art form. It was the first to introduce the triangular
bottle--in 1957. It was the first to use cardboard tubes and gift
tins and customize its advertising to specific international markets.
Such marketing adventures have paid off for the Glenfiddich.
Glenfiddich
Proof 80
Color Very pale - almost clear.
Nose Light, fruity and some sweetness. Light peat.
Body Light, fresh and smooth.
Palate Dry, with a hint of smoke and malt. Some fruit also comes
through.
Finish Medium in length and intensity.
15 year old, Cask Strength
Proof 102
Color Light amber.
Nose Fruity, with some sweetness. Light peat. Some floral notes.
Body Full, fresh and smooth. Some oiliness.
Palate Sweet, with a hint of smoke and malt. Some fruit also comes
through. Full. Superb.
Finish Long. Intense. Sweet. Mouth-coating oiliness.
Glengoyne
Region: Highlands
District: Western
Glengoyne Distillery is located in a wooded glen near Loch Lomond
in one of the most beautiful sites for a distillery. It may have
been established as early as 1833 and was formerly known as Burn
Foot and Glen Guin. It has a pretty waterfall that falls into
the natural hollow that forms the distillery's dam, creating a
pool where ducks swim. The distillery, being so close to Glasgow,
has become a tourist attraction, drawing 30,000 visitors in 1991.
An attractive visitors' center serves the distillery well. The
most distinguishing characteristic of the Glengoyne spirit is
that it is produced entirely from unpeated malt. About one-third
of the spirit is matured in sherry casks. It is a most unusual
malt, but well worth a taste--or two--or...
10 year old
Proof 80
Color Golden
Nose Fruity and fresh. Warm, with a trace of sherry and flowers.
Body Light to medium.
Palate Clean, sweet, round and fresh. Velvety.
Finish Sweet. Medium length.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Light gold or straw-like.
Nose Fresh, fruity, clean and round. smooth, with floral and sherry
notes.
Body Light to medium.
Palate Clean, round and some sweetness. A little smoother than
the 10-year-old bottling.
Finish Quite long, with some sweetness and a faint hint of wood.
17 year old
Proof 86
Color Golden
Nose Fruity and fresh. Some sherry and wood.
Body Medium
Palate Clean, sweet and round. Some oak and vanilla.
Finish Long, with some spice and sherry.
Glenkinchie
Region: Lowland
District: Eastern
Built by a local farmer about 1837, the Glenkinchie distillery
was soon sold to another farmer who used it for a saw mill and
a cattle shed. It was again sold in 1880 to be converted back
to its original purpose in time for the 1890s whisky boom. Glenkinchie
is located near the village of Pencaitland, about 15 miles from
Edinburgh, in rich farmland. Important to the student is the excellent
museum devoted to malt whisky which Glenkinchie took the leadership
in developing. The distillery also has its own bowling green.
Prior to 1989, practically all of the whisky produced at Glenkinchie
was used for blending purposes. It is an excellent introduction
to the world of single malts for the newcomer and a refreshing,
light example of a classic Lowland for the experienced malt lover.
You may be most familiar with this malt as a member of the Classic
Malts family.
10 year old
Proof 86
Color Pale gold or straw.
Nose Fragrant and fresh. Soft, flowery, slight sweetness, with
a hint of peat and some grassy notes.
Body Light to medium.
Palate Clean. Smooth, clean sweetness, grassy, well-rounded and
light. Quite fresh, with a hint of spice. Very full for a Lowland
malt.
Finish Fragrant, lingering, dry and some spice (ginger?) near
the end. Again, most exceptional for a Lowland malt.
Glenlivet
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
The Glenlivet is perhaps the best known of all the Scotch single
malts. Its founder, George Smith, with the encouragement of the
Duke of Gordon, was the first to apply for a legal distilling
license in 1824. George Smith was going against popular sentiment
at the time in doing so, but his foresight to see the economic
opportunities of legal distilling would give The Glenlivet a "head
start" on all the competition that is yet to be overcome.
It would be his "true grit" and a pair of hair-trigger
pistols given to him by the laird of Aberlour that would ensure
his perserverance.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Light or pale gold.
Nose Aromatic, with flowers. Clean and simple, with some maltiness.
Sherry notes, some spice and vanilla.
Body Medium, smooth and firm.
Palate Subtle peatiness. Delicate. Slightly sweet and fruity,
with vanilla notes. Clean and well-balanced.
Finish Long, but mild and warming. A trace of peat at the end.
18 year old
Proof 80
Color Dark amber.
Nose Full. Some peat, floral notes, sherry, honey and fruit.
Body Firm. Quite smooth.
Palate Full, round, floral. Some sweetness and quite rich.
Finish Rich. Drying, with spice and smoke.
Glenmorangie
Region: Highlands
District: Northern Highlands
Glenmorangie Distillery is located about one and a half miles
north of Tain, where it was formerly established about 1842. It
was originally a brewery in this location, that is said to have
been the site of alcoholic production since the Middle Ages. Glenmorangie
utilizes the tallest stills (almost 17 feet tall) in Scotland.
The ten-year-old is aged exclusively in bourbon casks. All of
Glenmorangie's production is bottled as a single malt, and it
is the most popular single malt in Scotland. It commands respect
from serious single malt connoisseurs everywhere. Glenmorangie
has recently bottled some of its traditional 10-year-olds after
"finishing", or aging, it for an additional two years
in port, Madeira and sherry casks.
10 year old
Proof 80
Color Pale gold.
Nose Fresh, clean, sweet, spicy, nutty, with flowers and a hint
of peat, smoke, vanilla.
Body Light to medium.
Palate Some sweetness, floral notes and spiciness. Creamy, with
maltiness.
Finish Long and lingering.
12 year old, Madeira Wood Finish
Proof 86
Color Bright amber.
Nose Quite complex. Some sweetness, wood and pepper. A couple
drops of water brings out some toffee, mint, citrus and Madeira.
Body Medium to full. smooth.
Palate Some fruit, spice and citrus. Some sweetness, but giving
way to dryness. Tangy? Unless one is expecting it, the Madeira
may not
Finish Long and lingering.
12 year old, Port Wood Finish
Proof 86
Color Deep gold or amber.
Nose Medium body. Some butterscotch, chocolate, vanilla and light
mint.
Body Medium to full and smooth.
Palate Complex, with sweetness and dryness. Spicy, with chocolate
and minty undertones.
Finish Long and lingering. The port is finally revealed.
12 year old, Sherry Wood Finish
Proof 86
Color Dark amber.
Nose Full, with sherry and honey. Some citrus and nuts.
Body Full and creamy.
Palate Some sweetness in the beginning. The sherry and nuts are
obvious. Engulfs the palate.
Finish Long and lingering. Warming.
18 year old
Proof 86
Color Deep golden amber.
Nose Full. Perfumed, with nuts, caramel and vanilla. Hints of
floral, honey, sweetness and mint.
Body Medium and smooth.
Palate Smooth, round, medium-dry, with some sherry, sweetness,
spice and maltiness.
Finish Long and lingering. Quite intense.
25 year old
Proof 86
Color Light or pale gold.
Nose Full and rich. A trace of light fruit and wood.
Body Medium, smooth and round.
Palate Full and rich. Not overpowering. Complex and aromatic,
with spice.
Finish Long and lingering. Quite intense. Aromatic.
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