Glen Garioch 1999 Sherry Cask
That Smell
4 576
Review by @OdysseusUnbound
- Nose18
- Taste20
- Finish20
- Balance18
- Overall76
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Glen Garioch
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Highland
- ABV: 56.3%
- Batch: Batch no.30
This sample was provided by a friend who warned me that my first tasting would probably be "sulphury", but that if I gave the second half of the sample some time, the sulphur would dissipate. Well, here goes.
Glen Garioch 1999 (14 years old) Batch no 30 56.3 % abv Sample bottled Oct 16, 2018
First tasting (January 16, 2019):
- Nose (undiluted): oranges, light brown sugar, golden raisins, oak, spent match (sulphur?) that dissipates a bit (but not totally) with a good rest in the glass, and then a mint and balsamic vinegar aroma appears
- Palate (undiluted): medium bodied, much gentler than the 56.3% abv would suggest, milk chocolate-covered raisins, yielding to a bright grapey note with a bit more oak
- Finish: medium length, light toffee, wine gums (without the gag-inducing texture of gummies), oak lingering, and a hint of lemons at the tail end.
Second tasting (February 11, 2019) with 1 teaspoon of water added:
- Nose: raisins, mint, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, walnuts. The sulphur (spent match, a bit of rubber/eraser) is not as pronounced as before, but it's still there. I feel as though given enough time, the sulphur might disappear altogether, but who knows?
- Palate: medium bodied, very gentle arrival, oak, brown sugar, raisins, milk chocolate. The bright grape note is diminished significantly with water.
- Finish: medium length, more oak, a slight waxiness, some lemons, black pepper, a herbal note at the end, rosemary or sage maybe?
This whisky feels "muted" with and without water. Maybe it's me, or maybe this is simply a subtle, nuanced malt. The lingering sulphur would make me wary of purchasing a bottle, but those who don't detect it as strongly would probably enjoy it. The herbal notes on the finish are drying and very interesting. But since I it would appear that I am sensitive to sulphur aromas, there's just no getting around its presence. That's not to say I don't appreciate my friend donating this sample. I do. Some people don't perceive sulphur odours very strongly, and some don't perceive them at all. Unfortunately, I do. It's not overpowering here, but it can't be ignored either.
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Luckily I appear to be immune to Sulfured, dirty Sherry. I went through a bottle of this and have a backup. The Glen Garioch 1995 would be more in your wheelhouse I think. Slightly peated, Bourbon cask matured 17 year cask strength and was available recently at the LCBO for $120 when they seemed to come across a bunch of cases and released them at the old 2012 price.