Since the beginning of this adventure, we’ve never been hidding our passion for Glengoyne, distillery located between Lowlands and Highlands. It’s the first distillery we’ve ever visited, we left the heart there and we’re probably influenced by our feelings… but we always appreciate Glengoyne whiskies, matured for long time in wonderful ex-sherry casks. Finally, thanks to the Italian importer Fabio Ermoli, we put our nostrils and taste buds on the top-of-the-line: the 25 yo. The colour is sexy, a bright ruby.
N: excellent start, a kind of sensorial orgy! It’s very juicy and rounded, with beautiful flavours of warm and soaked oak. Anyway, as every Glengoyne, even this 25 yo gives a “fresh” impression: chinotto, orange and tangerine juice: a sweeping red fruit explosion (strawberry and raspberry jam). Red berries flavoured tobacco; chocolate (Mon Cheri praline). A standard sherry profile in terms of descriptors, but with a powerful character really unusual. Apple pie and warm melted butter with sugar (is there any american oak, here?).
P: BOOM! A hail of flavours bombs, announced by the nose: plenty of red apples, strawberries and raspberries again. Strong sherried and fortified wine notes that we found in a different way in the Macallan ’59, too (Glengoyne is said to be Macallan’s heir, since it uses Golden Promise barley and high quality sherry casks). These notes turn to aged balsamic vinegar. Overall, it’s a super-fruity whisky and someone could easily find tropical suggestions. Dark citrus fruits, juicy and pulpy; chocolate and nougat (Nutella?). Ah, we forgot a greedy croissant and warm malt note…
F: simply astonishing, very long and persistent. Only certain peated whiskies last that long… Malt, red fruits, Nutella… Top!
An excellent whisky. Nothing more needs to be said: excluding single casks, this is probably the best sherried official bottling on the market: 92/100.
Recommended soundtrack: The Who – I can see for miles.
