Glen Garioch 29-year-old (D.1968, B.1997) Cask # 622 / 56% / 0.7l

Glen Garioch is a small distillery based in Old Meldrum in the Eastern Highlands.

Built in 1797, since 1968 it has been owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, now part of Beam Suntory. In the second half of the 20th century Glen Garioch was considered one of the most peated single malts from the Highlands. When the distillery resumed operations in 1997 after a two-year break, it completely abandoned the use of peated malt. Around the same time, Morrison Bowmore introduced several editions in the Official Distillery Archive mini-series. The Glen Garioch 1968 presented here is a whisky from a single hogshead cask (no. 623) filled on 27 April 1968 and bottled at cask strength (56% abv) 29 years later.

Nose: complex, sherry, black pepper, freshly roasted coffee beans, blackcurrants, cherries, licorice, notes of dried mushrooms, peat and forest floor, tobacco and oak.

Palate : dark chocolate, espresso, dried plums and cherries, bitter orange jam, black pepper, roasted almonds, leather, tobacco, a trace of mint and smoke in the background.

Finish : very long, with notes of sherry, cocoa powder, black pepper, licorice, cigar, leather, oak and peat.