Glen Garioch 29-year-old (D.1968, B.1997) Cask # 13 / 56.5% / 0.7l

Glen Garioch Distillery, based in the eastern Highlands, has been producing whisky since 1797, making it one of the oldest in Scotland. It is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, a subsidiary of Suntory since 1994.

In the second half of the 20th century Glen Garioch was considered one of the peatiest single malts from the Highlands. When the distillery reopened in 1997 after a two-year break, it completely abandoned peated malt. Around the same time, Morrison Bowmore began issuing the prestigious Official Distillery Archive mini-series. The Glen Garioch presented here is from a single hogshead cask (No. 13) filled on 18th May 1968 and bottled at cask strength (56.5% abv) 29 years later.

Nose: elegant and powerful, dark chocolate, espresso, roasted almonds, coconut flakes, grapefruit, nutmeg, honey, tobacco, leather, mint leaf, peat and oak.

Palate: perfectly balanced, mirabelle jam, apricots, oranges, nut nougat, crème brûlée, honey, dark chocolate, nutmeg, black pepper, notes of leather and peat.

Finish : very long and complex, with notes of dried fruit, toffee, dark chocolate, oak, tobacco, leather and peat smoke.