Glengoyne 12 Year Old cask strength

We sampled this bottle on the 14th of November 2012. Although it was harsh at first and had very divided opinions, it is actually a very pleasant dram. As with all cask strength whiskies, it improves with a dash of water.

Colour: Full gold, rose gold.

Nose: Very strong kick with a medicinal streak, Oaky and fruity. Hint of peat. Citrus zest. A drop of water smoothes it out and releases caramel and honey, sweet wines and raisins.

Body: Smooth, full and warming.

Palate: Very strong oak, can definitely taste the barrel. Tingles the tongue. But very sweet, apples and apricots. Water actually brings out more oak, but other citrus flavours which help to soften it. Honey and treacle. With hints of pepper and spice. Almonds.

Finish: Long, very long. Warms and tingles. More autumn fruits, aswell as hawthorn leaves. More spices, nutmeg. Water improves the spice and brings out notes of rum and raisin, crystalized ginger and even tobacco hints.

It's a very complex whisky, and once you get past the kick and rush of alcohol, it's very nice. Needs the splash of water, and requires a bit of work getting the exact amount right, but once you do all of that work is worth it. Nice Christmassy dram.

This bottle was my first natural cask strength whisky. I remembered liking the Glengoyne 17yo some time ago, so some time last year I decided to track down another bottle from the distillery. I found the 12yo in a cask strength version and jumped at the chance. This review will be partly based off some tasting notes from late last year and part from tonight's tasting.

Nose:
Winey, raisins, citrus flesh, something dark and sweet in the background. After some water, mellows out and some spice comes through. Some caramel as well.

Taste: Tasted neat: A bit oily, then quickly builds from spice to an intense, almost overpowering tingle at the tip of the tongue. After some water added, the body becomes creamy, the spice not so intense. Nice balance.

Finish: Warms you right up and then pulls up a chair in the corner to stay a while in the background.

This whisky is bottled at cask strength, is unchillfiltered and I believe has no caramel added (although there is no statement to that last). I've long had a liking for the distillery. This bottle is no disappointment, although it is not exactly outstanding. Just a comfortable, everyday whisky (as long as you add some water!).

This 12 Year Old Glengoyne was bottled at a cask strength of 57,2% without chill filtration and can be obtained from the better liquor store or online at the distillery.

Despite the higher ABV, the whisky doesn’t prickle the nose. I get some apples and apricots, surrounded by toffee and something that reminds me of Sauternes (French, sweet dessert wine). But it’s still rather spirity (although less than the standard 10 year old). Adding water gives me some mint and caramel.

The attack is quite oily and spicy. I get sweet apples, pears and some sherry. Adding water makes this whisky quite creamy and soft and even adds some hints of coffee, like Italian espresso. I like it even better than neat.

The finish is fruity, but oaky and drying. It does last forever, even with water.

Quite a complexe Glengoyne, if you ask me. Worth trying!