Glen Ord James MacArthur's Fine Malt Selection 12 Year Old

So tonight is the last night before TIFF starts, so am celebrating it by reviewing this excellent Scotch. I thought about cracking open something new and interesting, but I still have a few open bottles around that I haven't written about yet, so thought I would choose one of my recent favourites.

Glen Ord, just north of Inverness was founded in 1838. In 1923 it was bought by John Dewar & Sons, which then folded into what is now Diageo (who currently doesn't seem to offer any distillery bottlings in North America). This single cask (No. 26) was distilled in 1998 and bottled by James MacArthur & Co. in 2010.

The colour is very light pale straw with yellow highlights - very crisp and clean looking. The nose first brings out barley sugar, then freshly cut grass, lemon, and a hint of oak. Water brings out some pastry notes. Almost invigorating, and quite refreshing.

On the palate there is tart green apples, some white pepper, mint, fruit sugars, and more barley. It is somewhat mouthdrying but water does give it a creamier mouthfeel.

It has a fantastic finish: sweet, long and slightly smoky. This is beautifully balanced, a very enjoyable malt, both simple and complex somehow. I first tried it at a Quaich dinner, and liked it so much I bought it directly from the importer. I think it is getting spicier as it oxidizes in the bottle, which is very interesting...a perfect late summer dram. And now, back to this bothersome behemoth known as TIFF......ugh.

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