Glengoyne 15 Year (Discontinued)

Thanks to Davie Warner for the sample! This is a classic scotch. It has all the hallmarks of what you think of when you think "single malt". Cereal and shortbread, smooth and silky. No burn or heat, about as velvety as they come. I honestly couldn't taste any Sherry influence at first, but if you let it breathe, then you can just taste a tinge of hazelnut. Really well made. Thanks again Davie!

Thanks again to Davie Warner for this sample. Glengoyne 15 is hard to describe for me in some ways because it strikes right at the core of what I consider to be "scotch." It's a combination of malt, cereal grain, furniture polish, honey, and a bit of woodiness. It's a very pure, smooth expression of that flavor, and I think it's proofed just right, clear without feeling thin, but without the tongue burn or anesthetizing effect of higher proofs where this kind of quiet flavor profile would be nuked into oblivion. Pleasant finish, on the dry side, with some vetiver or lemongrass. To fall back on a wine analogy, this is a have-with-fish kind of scotch, and would be a recommendation for anyone who wants to get a sense of the "heart" notes in a scotch. I was surprised to see online that this scotch is aged in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. I frankly have a hard time detecting much (if any) sherry influence here, except perhaps in the lightest of touches of nuttiness and spiciness in the palate and finish -- which could just as easily be the power of suggestion.

Vanilla, honey and malted cereal on the nose. Creamy caramel with hints of almonds and citrus on the palate. The finish is lightly spiced and relatively short. Not extraordinary in terms of complexity, but very tasty and easy drink.

Bonus points: noticed it clearly states 'Natural Color' on the label! After a respectful amount of time to open in the glass, sweet vanilla and earthy wild honey rise to the occasion, followed closely by beloved petrichor and lemon zest. Once on the palate it's all sweet malt chocolate and powerful oak spices. The finish is long, mild bittering menthol, with baked lemon zest lingering longest. A balanced, easy drinking, old-world implicative sort of dram. Dry glass: banana pudding.

Bought a small bottle in Edinburgh. Drank same night as Balvenie Doublewood 12y. Liked the Glengoyne more! Very smooth and without a lot of smoky finish. I'd buy this in US is available.

Located upon the Highland Line, there have been endless whisky debates as to whether Glengoyne is technically a Lowland distillery. Be that as it may, their 15-year-old single malt has definitely earned your attention. The nose is complex and intense with fresh fruits, grainy toffee and confectionery. Honey, sour apples and lemons intermingle with kiwi, sucrose and hints of white wine. Flavorwise, cinnamon, floral vanilla and walnuts add up to a rich and quite aromatic mouthfeel, followed by an earthy, slightly dry and oak-dominated finish. A lovely dram! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]