Glengoyne 18 Year

OK back for some more reviews. Today Glengoyne 18 year. I really do want to do this side by side with a Macallan 18 but unless someone else is buying, that's not happening. I could put in next to a few other options I have but nothing else seems just right. A vs. with this however seems needed. Anyway 43%, chill filtered, and non colored. They got 1 of those 3 right. 120 bucks puts this into the reasonable all be it not great priced whisky group. At 46% I think I'd give this one high marks on price but at 43 I don't see this as value. Just reasonable. Color - not big on color reviews but as it's non colored, you can see a nice gold with some red hues. This is heavy refilled sherry barrels without a doubt and I'd guess American oak as well. Nose - First note is just vanilla, oak, and a hint of sherry. A second pull and I'm starting to see the apple some pear and some jam. Fruity but gives me more an impression of some ex bourbon barrel influence than all sherry. If all sherry there are some tired old wood in here. Taste - A lot of vanilla, it is spicy with a lot of oak notes, and then that jam. If I didn't read this was all sherry barrels I'd assume this was slightly more sherried than the disappointing 15 year. Finishes with a lot of sherry spice notes. Finish is actually pretty long as well. Overall, I'm a bit disappointed as I wanted more of a sherry explosion. So far the sample I had of the 25 year remains the dream I have with each Glengoyne, that I just get a less mature version of that master piece. Instead I just get very different expression with the 12, 15, and 18. All a good but when people tell me these guys are sherry bombs, well I guess they're talking about the 25 and perhaps the 21 which I've yet to find a bottle of. All said I'm giving this a 3 star rating. The finish is so long and lingering that it pulls up the whole rest of the issues and brings it to a 3. Without that finish I honestly could have been close to a 2 star which I believe is what I gave the 15.

Nose is pleasant, fresh feeling, light tobacco and leather notes, with hints of soft oranges and dried fruits, specially raisins. Palate is rich but very smooth, wonderful notes of soft vanilla, apricot and honey. Finish is a bit on the short side, fresh, candy notes, honey and butterscotch

Sherry bomb ! Smooth , sweet , long finish , and complex. Highly recommended.