Glengoyne 12 Year

聞起來有檸檬、焦糖和綠蘋果的味道；顏色是紅金色，喝起來有很重的木桶味道，還有甜甜的蜂蜜、水果、蘋果和大麥味。 我推薦買一瓶，慢慢享受。 There’s a little hint of lemon, caramel, and green apple on the nose. The color is a rich amber gold. A sip reveals a wood flavor along with sweet honey, fruit, apple, and malty sweetness. I recommend you get yourself a bottle and take your time enjoying it.

Well, it’s back to working my way through the Scottish Distillery Tour group samples after taking a bit of a holiday break whilst breaking open a few new bottles of my own. This time it’s Glengoyne 12 year old. This one was supplied by my friend Scott, from Long Island. It’s a Highland malt, 43% ABV and is a golden yellow in color and produces runny, oily legs in the tasting glass. The nose is atypical of a Highland malt: caramel & toffee apple, tropical fruits, honey sweetness with a touch of charred oak barrel shining through. The palate starts out smooth, with some milk chocolate notes, that return back towards the nose with honey and vanilla. The oak is restrained here because the mouthfeel turns a bit flat. I wouldn’t call it oily, it just reminds me of a flat, soda pop type of feeling. Let’s just say it’s the opposite of lively. The dram kinda falls on its face here. It’s a shame because the nose and initial sip were solid. The finish is long and slippery, but quickly turns bitter. A very unpleasant bitter. Dammit. Overall, this one just doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to highland style single malts. The nose starts out promising but the palate and mouthfeel don’t deliver, while the finish really kills it with the bitterness. Thanks to @Scott_E for this sample, but I just think that you may have to climb higher into the age statement offerings here if you want to see a Glengoyne that shines. 2.75 stars. Cheers.

Also bought on Holidays in September 2017. In Lithgow

For 43%, this feels closer to 48%! A nice nose of tropical fruit, oak, sherry, and caramel. The palate brought a ton more light fruit, slight smokiness, and a nice salty caramel. The finish is short, but it is only a 12 year old. It's very reminiscent to a BenRiach 10 to me. It's a 3.5, and the theme to this dram should be "Middle of the Road" by the Pretenders. I am looking forward to an older Glengoyne to try, for sure. A big thanks to Scott for the sample!

Thanks to Scott as part of our little trading team, I got to sample this one. Here's a whisky you don't come across too often, at least I don't...probably hidden in the shadows of it's other Highland brethren. I love the nose on this: delectable tropical fruits. Mangoes, kiwi, Asian pear. But seems to fall apart totally in the palette. Shortbread and cereal...I wish that Asian pear / mango combination carried to the palette. Great starter malt, especially for those not ready to dip into those peaty Islays or briny Islanders. Thanks @Scott_E for the sample!