During this fatherhood phase I have only one or two opportunities to do tastings each week, which is one reason why I did this three-part Taste Off. A second reason is that one can also gain a better perspective of one whisky by juxtaposing it with other whiskies during the same tasting session. I keep staring at that sentence, trying to figure out if it will make sense to anyone but me, but I'm so damned tired that I'm just going to leave it be.
On Monday, I reviewed a 23 year old 1990 Glen Garioch bottled by The Nectar of the Daily Drams. It was a sharp, peaty, spirity, youthful thing.
Today I'm reviewing a 25 year old from Signatory, probably my favorite indie bottler. This whisky is beloved by Serge and the whiskybase community. Let's see if I'm in the same whisky boat...
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Distilled by: Morrison Bowmore
Current Ownership: Beam Suntory
Region: Eastern Highlands
Bottler: Signatory
Age: 25 years (April 9, 1990 to April 16, 2015)
Maturation: hogshead
Cask #: 2752
Alcohol by Volume: 50.6%
Chillfiltered? No
Caramel Colorant? No
(purchased sample)
NEAT
This has the lightest color of the three. A lovely nose. Lemons, pineapples, roses, canned peaches, toffee pudding and peat. The palate is full of malt and white fruits. Then fermenting melon, cayenne pepper and citrus. Marzipan. Slightly fizzy. It does get a sharper bite with time in the glass. The complex finish mirrors the palate, but with a little more peat and herbs.
WITH WATER (~43-44%abv)
Oooh yeah. The nose has butterscotch, (lots of) fresh peaches, dried apricots, ocean air and a hint of Belgian witbier. The palate has changed a bit. Plums, limes, fudge, tart cherries, cranberry juice and bitter peat. Again, the finish matches the palate.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
Okay yeah, this is pretty great. It works with or without dilution, though I think I preferred it with. It's much rounder and more mature than yesterday's 23yo, swapping out the harsher edges and loud peat for fruit and complexity.
I'm pretty sure this sold out promptly following Serge's blessing in 2015, but if it's still floating around out there at its €100-120ish original price, it wouldn't be a bad Glen Garioch to seek out.
Availability - probably sold out, so maybe via the secondary market?
Pricing - ???
Rating - 89