Slainte-Mhath
Glen Garioch 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 18, 2024 (edited September 8, 2024)
Why stop halfway? Non-chill filtered but obviously colored, Glen Garioch 12 is giving mixed messages. A bit prickly at first, the nose interweaves apricots, banana and ripe mango with heather, ginger and a dusty cereal note. On the palate, red apples, tangerines and baking spices give way to grapes, black tea and salted caramel, and I could swear that there is a tiny hint of peat smoke in the back. Orange zest, honey and some vegetal notes characterize the earthy and cask-dominated finish. A decent core range release, the elevated ABV works in its favor.
RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE
40.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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@Slainte-Mhath I have tried the Founders (years ago) and liked it. Probably more so than the 12. Worth it if you can find it around the same price of the 12 IMO.
@cascode Thanks, I have read your review, very insightful as always. There might be some batch variation, I assume. I enjoyed this single malt and will probably buy another bottle some time in the future.
@Slainte-Mhath I've not tried the Founder's Reserve, and a quick check indicates that it's sold out in our market. Good review, BTW - I liked this a little more as it put me in mind of dirty west-coast highland malts which I like. That taste was from a small sample and I bought a full bottle for the stash based on the tasting, but it was a later batch. It might be something I should open soon rather than save.
Has anyone tasted Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve? Is it worth a try? I usually don't bother to look into NAS bottlings, but this one seems to have a decent reputation.
Additional comment: I was struggling with the score for this single malt, it was just in between 83 and 84 points. The Deanston 12, which I reviewed earlier this year, is certainly better - but this bottle has a certain appeal, a rustic old school style that I enjoyed, despite the occasional heat of the spirit.