Glen Garioch 18 Year Old 1998 Adelphi

Wonderfully dark color… that’s the first thing I notice about this independently bottled Glen Garioch. Adelphi allowed it to mature for 18 years on a seemingly very active sherry hogshead.

The nose is somewhat dry, if you know what I mean. Dried apricots, almond shavings, milk chocolate with pieces of dried fruit like Cadbury and furniture polish. Fresh ginger and a hint of linseed oil. Very good. Very refined.

Oh my, very oily, almost creamy on the palate and immediately candy-like sweet. At first I’m reminded of red lace candy, joined by raisins and maply syrup. Linseed oil – like on the nose – and multigrain bread next freshly ground coffee and chocolate. Marzipan. Leather. From the second sip forward I get more notes. Oh, did I already mention it does not need water? Sturdy fellow, but quite quaffable if you respect small sips.

The finish is outstanding. Very rich and round, piquant on ginger and black pepper, red fruit and some hay at the death (did not see that one coming). Great.

It’s true, the sherry cask overpowers the DNA from Glen Garioch a bit, but this malt enjoys it a lot. Delicious sippin’ dram.

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