After a few more affordable drams, time to dive into deeper and more exclusive waters.
Earlier this year (April), GlenGlassaugh released it’s first batch of single casks, (see my previous post about that), the youngest cask being 28 year old, and the oldest being 45 year old, those are of course old stocks which were bought together with the distillery when changing ownership. I will be reviewing most of the range of single casks in the coming weeks, starting with this 1975 (my birth year – cool isn’t it?) who spent 38 years in the casks then finished in an Oloroso Sherry Hogshead before being bottled. Quite a lot of evaporation here with only a notch above the “legal” abv of 40%.
GlenGlassaugh 1975 cask # 7301 / 38 years old / Finished in the finest Oloroso Sherry Hogshead / 40.7% vol , £430
Nose: Grape peels. Old wood varnish but not too heavy. Rather fresh for a 38 year old Whisky. Spice: cinnamon and nutmeg with a nice nuttiness too. A malty sweetness hides underneath. More time in the glass reveals more sugar and sultana sweetness. And some dry Oloroso notes.
Palate: Prickly and peppery to start with. The. Getting fruitier with grapefruit wood and nuts. Green grapes and some sherry influence too. Semi sweet sultanas and dates. Wood varnish. Lighter than expected with a sweet sour finish. Distant smoky note.
Finish: Raisins and malt , with charred wood and dry sherry.
Bottom line:
A fine start to the range. quite fresh for a 1975 whisky, with lovely old wood, but well balanced and not at all overpowering. To be honest it contains far less wood that I’d anticipated. Balanced. that’s the word. very much so.
It’s not cheap at 430 quid, that’s true.