Glen Garioch 29 year old 1988 Thompson Brothers

Phil and Simon Thompson continue to live the dream up in Dornoch: running a distiller, picking quality single casks from around Scotland, and chillin' in one of the best whisky bars in the world. (I should probably just do a Thompson week in 2025. Hell, I also need to go to Dornoch whenever I return to Scotland.) I have here a sample from a Glen Garioch refill hoggie that may have been split into two releases, with two pretty labels, in 2018. Distilled before the distillery was closed (1995) and reopened (1997), back when a touch of peated malt was used, this whisky had almost three full decades in oak. The fact that the Bros pulled the cask nine days before its 30th birthday, when they could have probably doubled the price, is also much appreciated.

Distillery: Glen Garioch

Owner: Beam Suntory

Region: Eastern Highlands

Independent Bottler: Thompson Brothers

Age: 29 years (5 Dec 1988 - 26 Nov 2018)

Maturation: refill hogshead

Outturn: 161 bottles (across two releases)?

Alcohol by Volume: 46.2%

(from a bottle split)

NOTES

It starts off with a nice toasty note on the nose, toasted grains, toasted nuts, and toasted oak. The fruits follow: grapefruit, kiwi juice, and peach candy. Around the 45-minute mark, dried apricots, gentle florals, and a hint of rye bread arise.

The palate is very dry, so tannic that it's almost smoky. And I don't mind it because sweetness (toffee and mint candy), bitter citrus, a hint of kiln balance it out. Dried apricots also appear after a while, as do some savory herbs.

It finishes sweeter, with gentle peppery tannins. Oranges, mint leaves, coconut cream, and metal provide character.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Yes, it's tannic and I don't hate it. Complexity (you know, the sort that comes from actual time) saves the day. Its ABV right on target as well and doesn't have me wondering why the angels were so damned thirsty. And its price wasn't that horrifying. Good on ya if you scored a bottle!

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - £235
Rating - 87