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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
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October 2, 2024
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For us, Glen Elgin is White Horse, identical to Lagavulin, and White Horse was one of many prime blends. After which there have been some excellent Glen Elgins, and I’ve little question we’ll come throughout some at this time. We’re stepping into randomly this time – so we’ll positively come across the compulsory wine casks. Alea jacta Est, the die is solid.
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Glen Elgin 12 yo 2011/2023 (55.5%, Tri Carragh, reracked in a primary fill tawny Port barrique, 292 bottles) 
It was ‘reracked’ in 2022, so this was clearly a ending job. Color: straw, with a fragile trace of rosé (harking back to white pinot noir). Nostril: the Port affect is unmistakable, with notes of blackcurrant, cherries, and raspberries, nevertheless it’s balanced out properly by touches of liquorice and mustard, which maintain issues in verify. It’s actually somewhat nice. With water: extra in regards to the barley malt now, together with hints of recent mint leaves, crushed between your fingers. Mouth (neat): fairly beautiful, actually. You’d assume this was a advantageous malt with nice texture and energy, given a splash of cherry and redcurrant juice. Extra in regards to the fruit than the wine, which is not any unhealthy factor in the case of cherries and redcurrants. With water: much more cherries. End: lengthy, and onerous not to think about Belgium’s well-known kriek beer, even when that’s maybe fallen out of style during the last, what, thirty years? Some fruit tree leaves within the aftertaste. Feedback: nothing so as to add, this was nicely put collectively.
SGP:651 – 82 factors. |
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Glen Elgin 12 yo 2012/2024 (55%, Whisky Dudes, PX quarter cask end, cask #801174, 145 bottles) 
A two-year ending, so let’s see who dominates, the PX or the Glen Elgin. Color: darkish gold. Nostril: that is somewhat enjoyable. There’s pipe tobacco, damp earth, dunnage, and people cherries once more (this time extra like a tisane), adopted by a whiff of aubergines (nearly moussaka-like) and heaps of roasted nuts of all types, resulting in what we’d name ‘Nusswasser’ right here. With water: you’ll be able to’t assist however consider well-known outdated malts wealthy in paxarette, however of their youthful, cask-strength types. Mouth (neat): very wealthy, this time loaded with raisins. Straw wine, muscat, and sure, a really ‘dulce’ PX character. The wine is clearly in cost, although it’s definitely good PX. Malaga, maybe? With water: identical impression. Let’s be sincere, we do love these wines, so if you happen to’re going to mix them with malt, you would possibly as nicely allow them to totally shine. Yep, Serge talking. End: identical story. Some kind of steadiness has been discovered, although we wouldn’t fairly name it equality (what?). Feedback: not mad in regards to the idea, however I actually do get pleasure from its execution. Certainly, we’re sophisticated typically.
SGP:741 – 85 factors. |
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Glen Elgin 12 yo 2010/2023 (56.6%, James Eadie, refill oloroso hogshead end, cask #361161, 273 bottles) 
A thirty-month ending. Let me remind you that at 36 months, or 3 years and a day, it’s formally a maturation. Anyway, I’d name James Eadie the Ayrton Senna of ending—keep in mind how they mentioned Senna might win a race even in a diesel Mercedes property wagon? With no turbo or a compressor. Color: full gold. Nostril: nicely, there you go. Walnut cake, black nougat, pipe tobacco, outdated Armagnac, backyard soil, liquorice, roasted pecans, and so forth. Unstoppable. With water: it’s getting annoying now. Mouth (neat): extremely good. Jaffa muffins, espresso, marmalade, Szechuan pepper, liquorice, and, I believe, some Glen Elgin. And naturally, nuts. With water: I get the sensation, although I might be mistaken, that the oloroso used right here wasn’t a kind of younger, boring ones the bodegas simply use to season whisky casks. This tastes like Navazos, or Tradicion, or the like. Sure! End: lengthy, fantastically bitter, nonetheless with nuts and low, plus Seville oranges. Feedback: helmets off! I imply, hats off!
SGP:451 – 88 factors. |
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Come on, one other 12-year-old, however a daily hoggie this time…
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Glen Elgin 12 yo 2010/2023 (53.5%, Alister Walker’s Rare Flyers for Whiskylovers HK & Abyss, bourbon hogshead, cask #801000, 146 bottles)
Off we go to Hong Kong. Color: gold. Nostril: it’s like a correct vacation, with these clear, elegant casks that haven’t been drenched in any oddball wines. The waxy facet of Glen Elgin lastly shines by means of, with mandarins, kumquats, beeswax, yellow flowers, oranges, and dandelions. With water: hints of paraffin and motor oil, including an additional layer of dimension. Mouth (neat): completely good. It kicks off with a faint gin-like juniper/cleaning soap contact, earlier than swiftly gliding into bergamots and blood oranges. Nonetheless that oily, nearly waxy texture. Pretty physique. With water: oh sure, sure, sure. There’s nonetheless that faint cleaning soap/cologne be aware, however on this context, it’s really a energy. Certainly, there are buddies who drink gin, no? There’s nearly a touch of Campbeltown right here. End: lengthy, full-bodied, and extra natural, as is commonly the case. A little bit of apple peel and bark lingering within the aftertaste. Feedback: it’s the right counterpart to James Eadie’s. One would possibly even be tempted to combine the 2 50/50, however hey, we’ve received different issues to do.
SGP:551 – 88 factors. |
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Glen Elgin 11 yo 2012/2024 (59%, Berry Bros. & Rudd, hogshead, cask #807729, 502 bottles)
The sequence is named ‘Glens & Valleys’, which we do discover somewhat poetic. 502 bottles at cask energy from a single hogshead? Fairly poetic certainly. Color: very pale, like white wine. Nostril: this one takes us even nearer to the distillate. Apples and pears waxed to perfection, barley syrup, sesame oil, and buttery croissants. With water: hints of plasticine, a little bit of shoe polish, and a tiny contact of these broths we used to seek out in White Horse. Hurray. Mouth (neat): pure eau-de-vie manufactured from barley, apples (Gravensteiner), plums, and pears… Not a touch of wooden, you’d assume it was matured in an amphora or a stone jar. It’s gorgeous, although naturally, it’s not fairly what most anticipate from a “whisky”. With water: oh, eau-de-vie of sloe berries, pears, kirsch… Such good freshness. End: lengthy, all the time recent, with a faint salty be aware over these outdated backyard apples and pears, those that by no means fairly attain full ripeness. Feedback: it’s nearly a bit provocative. We adore it.
SGP:551 – 87 factors. |
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Oh sure, we forgot to say the worm tubs…
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Glen Elgin 15 yo 2007/2023 (58.9%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society for LMDW, Artist #13, #85.89, first fill oloroso sherry, ‘Wormtub Magic’, 241 bottles)
A somewhat lengthy description, however I’m certain the whisky is simply as prolonged on the palate (what a middling remark, S.). Color: deep gold. Nostril: outdated walnuts, patchouli, dried flowers, blood oranges, damp earth, tobacco, and, merely put, oloroso. As soon as once more, it actually appears like true oloroso. With water: water lifts the distillate to the floor, bringing out oils (sesame, sunflower), beeswax, and a recent mastic be aware. Completely top-notch, this two-step character. Mouth (neat): nearly appears like there’s some Port Mourant in there, or one other somewhat hefty Demerara rum. Chocolate, nuts, espresso, olive oil, together with liquorice and bitter oranges. With water: no, again to the unique distillate, nectar, cosmetics, pollen, and really ripe apple… End: lengthy, extra natural as usually, however the inexperienced walnut takes cost. You must bow to it. Feedback: completely stunning, although it would want one other ten years to push it into the 90s.
SGP:461 – 88 factors. |
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It’s time to decide on one final one, I believe…
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Glen Elgin 16 yo 2008/2024 (58.8%, Woman of the Glen, tawny Port end, cask #800178, 266 bottles)
Oops, the Port is again, however we’ll convey some order to it. Color: Rosy amber. Yep. Nostril: strawberry takes the lead right here, particularly within the type of jam and liqueur. Plus wild strawberries and dried figs. The worst half is, it’s fairly nice, particularly the wild strawberry, king of fruits (no, expensive buddies in Asia, it’s not durian). With water: a touch of natural tea (hawthorn) and cranberry syrup. Notes of slate and clay, only for the report. Mouth (neat): really, it’s all about strawberry liqueur, strawberry jam, strawberry syrup, strawberry sweets, strawberry yoghurt… (I believe they get it, S.). With water: and honey. End: lengthy, candy, with ultra-ripe strawberries and dried raisins, plus the standard black pepper. Feedback: Very good, fairly enjoyable, however nonetheless, perhaps just a bit bit an excessive amount of for me.
SGP: 641 – 82 factors. |
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