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Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Glen Garioch 18 year old 2003 SMWS 19.59

A true sibling whisky of Monday's wonderful small batch, with all barrels carrying spirit distilled on February 17, 2003, today's Glen Garioch is a single cask release, one first-fill ex-bourbon bottled by the SMWS. At 59.8%abv, it's the drunkest of SMWS's 30+ sibling Garioch casks so far. Gimme gimme gimme.

source

Distillery: Glen Garioch
Owner: Beam Suntory
Region: Eastern Highlands
Independent Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Age: 18 years (17 February 2003 - 2021)
Maturation: first-fill bourbon barrel
Cask #: 19.59, "Dates and Staves"
Outturn: 202 bottles
Alcohol by Volume: 59.8%
(from a paid event)

NEAT

On the nose, a layer of toasted barley and candied pecans rests upon earth and hay. Time teases out notes of jasmine and vanilla bean later on. The palate starts with salty roasted almonds, umami (dried mushroom), and tart citrus. Hints of dried peaches, dried leaves, and hay highlight the background. It finishes with an even mix of tart, salt, and savory. A little bit of earthy smoke here, a dried peach there.

DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1¾ tsp of water per 30mL whisky

It's a completely different whisky now, with key lime pie, orange peels, and carob on the nose. The palate is earthy and salty, with lots of walnuts and very tart citrus. It's all citrus (tart and bitter) in the finish.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Another great one from the 17th of February 2003. This is shaping up to be a hell of a parcel. There's a tiny bit more oak, and maybe slightly less cohesion, than Monday's whisky, but that one had the benefit of being a small batch, this barrel had to stand on its own. The palate, neat or diluted, may have been my favorite part with its tart fruits, earth, salt, and savoriness. I'm ready for the next five!

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - ???
Rating - 88

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