This is the first expression released under the new management, after the Benriach distillery took over the GG this year (2013) with the intention to bring this iconic distillery fully back to life by giving it the investment, commitment and care it deserves. Being a 30 yo it’s obviously distilled by the older owners, but as you well know, old GG are wonderful.
Glenglassaugh 30 yo, 44.8% abv
Nose: lovely older Whisky nose just like We love them… Old library cabinets. Old books. Malt. A dollop of toffee. Some sweet sherry notes too. Fortified wine. It’s very deep and a hint if dried fruit too. Date and sultana. Wonderful.
Palate: ginger and old wood with dark chocolate, praline, dried fruit and a hint of balsamic. Rich chocolate brownie , dates and sultans. Dash of coffee beans. And a hint of herbal goodness as well as toffee. Sweet mother of Jesus. This is huge. It’s so so good.
Finish: prunes. Toffee. Old wood cupboards. Sherry loveliness and dark chocolate with ginger bits.
This is an exceptional dram, one of the best of the Genre I’ve tried this year, and easily the best GG I ever had ( and a nice step up from the 26 yo I reviewed). Rich, complex, and so well balanced. True Greatness. Too bad I was not able to find it on any of the major whisky retailers’ sites. Gone?