Glen Garioch made its last appearance on Diving for Pearls as a septet of 2003 SMWS bottlings, 18 months ago. There were at least three gems in that series, which is a much better batting average than most of my clusters have offered. No, I don't have any other 2003 SMWS casks from this Eastern Highlands distillery. But a trio of Gariochs from three different decades are calling my name right now.
Though whisky retailers have hundreds (if not thousands) of single casks of Scottish single malt distilled in 2012 or later, I've tried less than a dozen of them, largely because most of those I've consumed have been mediocre. But I like Cadenhead, fino, and Glen Garioch, so I took part in a bottle split of today's cask. Now it's time to find out if those parts came together.
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Owner: Beam Suntory
Region: Eastern Highlands
Age: 10 years (2012 - Autumn 2022)
Maturation: Fino sherry cask (maybe a hoggie)
Outturn: 318 bottles
(from a bottle split)
NEAT
Wow, the nose begins with notes of actual dry fino, like raw walnuts, raw pecans, and saline. It gets fruitier with time, offering plums, apricots, lemon blossoms, watermelon Jolly Ranchers, and cinnamon. The palate arrives MUCH sweeter than expected. I'm getting marshmallows, lemon hard candies, cinnamon red hots, and green grapes, with raw new make resting beneath. The finish is even more sugary, with lemon and cinnamon candies, and slightly tangy grapes.
DILUTED to ~46%abv, or 1½ tsp of water per 30mL whisky
New make and candy on the nose. Cinnamon red hots, rock candy, and yeast. The palate remains sweet, with more bitterness and peppercorns. Hints of roses and metal in the background. It finishes very sugary and floral.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
I can only write "sugary" so many times. This is one of the sweetest scotches I have ever tried, and I'm at loss as to why Cadenhead chose to release it as is. Perhaps it was briefly finished in the fino cask and the original hogshead was a 4th fill. My palate preferences reflect my soul, bitter and occasionally spicy. This whisky's flavor does not fit my palate, but the (neat) nose is lovely, which rescues this whisky from descending into the C+ zone. This confection may suit other drinkers' faces, but I think it wasn't done baking.
Availability - Probably sold out
Pricing - €75
Rating - 81
