Glenturret 30 Year

2024 release. Aged in a combination of Oloroso, PX, Port, and European Oak, it is phenomenal. Got one of the last vip hour whiskyfest pours out of a sample bottle. Loaded with notes of Raspberries, Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Blackberries, Cinnamon, Christmas Cakes, Grapefruit, Marzipan, Date Syrup, Cloves, Ginger, and Candied Oranges.

Oh Glenturret, you disappointed me with your previous 30-year release that was bottled at 43.3% ABV and was priced around $400 and now I find myself with a sample of your 2021 30-year old release that was bottled at 41.6% ABV with a staggering price of $1700+ for a bottle. With a price hike like that, you certainly seem confident in this either being some damn fine scotch or perhaps just a well-designed bottle released in a capitalistic attempt in order to expedite the flow of capital from one fool’s pocket into another’s. Let’s open this sample up and find out. The nose starts with a mix of dusty old leather-bound books, mildly sour tropical fruits and toasted marshmallows followed by light florals, mild flinty minerality and dark chocolate covered almonds then fruits of tangerine, caramelized peaches and pineapple that transitions to anise, cardamom, and polished old antique furniture with low ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate bitter spice that quickly fades to dusty old leather-bound books and toasted marshmallow followed by honeysuckle, mild flinty minerality and dark chocolate covered almonds then mildly sour fruits of tangerine, candied lemon and lychee that transitions to light baking spices and mildly bitter black tea with low ethanol burn. The finish is short, starting with creamy tropical fruits along with dusty leather-bound books that fade to light baking spices and mildly bitter black tea. Well, this is certainly a step up from the previous 30-year old release that the well-aged oak notes are dominant but aren’t overpowering the mildly sour citrus fruits and unique spices that are quite enjoyable, although unfortunately thin likely due to that low ABV and could have been exceptional if bottled at a higher proof. Overall, this is an easy sipping and well-aged dram, but I’m not sure why someone would choose this when you could easily just buy a Johnnie Walker Blue at around $250 to get those dusty notes and personally I think the Blue is much better.

The nose starts with a mix of dusty old leather bound books, moderately sour citrus and light powdered sugar followed by prunes and dark chocolate cocoa powder then fruits of grapefruit, red grapes and apricot that transitions to anise, cardamom, and polished old antique furniture with light ethanol burn. The taste is a thin mouthfeel starting with a mix of dusty old leather bound books, golden raisins and light powdered sugar followed by prunes and dark chocolate cocoa powder then fruits of lychee, apricots and sour apple that transitions to powdered ginger, cardamom, and ashy oak with light ethanol burn. The finish is short with golden raisins, cocoa powder, sour apple, lemon zest, cloves and ashy oak. Alas, this is yet another tale of older not always being better that manages to bring some enjoyable dusty old oak notes, but the nose is overwhelmed by those sour fruits with a chalky earthy flavor that carries over to the taste where those sour notes are intensified with a watery mouthfeel that thankfully finishes short to get rid of those sour and chalky notes. These appear to be selling for around $400 at Fine Drams which seems like a deal compared to the astronomical price of $1800 at TWE. This is an easy pass at either of those prices and I'm thankful I just had a sample of this to try as I'd much rather have many other Scotches priced under $100 than this one.