Glenkinchie 24 Year Old 1991

There are not that many official bottlings of Glenkinchie. After the 10 Year Old was replaced by the 12 Year Old there have only been a couple of Distiller’s Editions, Manager’s Choice and Manager’s Dram and a limited 20 Year Old. Hence it was a (pleasant) surprise to find Glenkinchie in this year’s line-up of the Diageo Special Releases. This 24 Year Old, of which almost 6000 bottles were released, will set you back some 400 EUR, though. I find that too much (and that is an understatement). Nevertheless, I will gladly give it a try (I scored the sample at the Spirits in the Sky festival).

The nose is robust on overripe apples, oranges and lime, nuts (mostly almonds) and coconut, but also shows quite a bit of wood and even some wood glue. I like it, but admittedly though this would be softer, rounder and more fruity.

The arrival is powerful and spicy on bitter oranges and lime, followed by apples, green tea and lots of liquorice wood. It not just robust now, it is even a tad brutal. You would expect softness from Glenkinchie, but this one has quite a rough edge. There is also something sour in there that I cannot quite pinpoint. Gooseberry? Hint of min. The wood is just a tad too loud to my taste.

That wood puts its foot down in the long finish.

Sturdy Lowlander that even reminds me a bit of Rosebank. But so expensive: between 350 and 550 EUR (what a ridiculous difference!) depending on where you look. Way too much for me to spend on this.

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