Glengoyne 21 y.o.

43% abv

Score:  83.5/100

The next step along the line in the old (and now obsolete) Glengoyne range.  This was the version from a couple years back (early 2010s, I think), before they snazzed it all up with new packaging and such.  I have tried the newer edition, but only in a festival setting.  Not an ideal venue to assess whisky, of course.  I can say, though, that I was not overly impressed with that one either.

Here we have an ‘interesting’ malt from the Highlands, and one that boasts a very different profile from the younger variants in the range.  Much more pronounced depth of sherry influence.  Emphasis heavily on the ‘much’.  You’ll still find the distillery’s inherent maltiness omnipresent (and almost a distraction), but the swirling depths of ‘dark’ and tangy/sweet notes are quite a game changer.

Having said that…this is still only an ‘ok’ whisky.  Some great individual characteristics, but it never really fires on all cylinders as a cohesive whole.

Nose:  Deep sherry influence.  A little drier and more complex than I expected.  Dusty, mincemeat notes.  Chocolate syrup.  Much cinnamon and a bit of cedar.  Dark breads and sweet molasses raisin cookies.  Neat nose.  Smells younger than 21, I think, but very nice nevertheless.  A mash-up of the spice cupboard and a good cigar.  A squeeze of orange.

Palate:  Maltier than I’d like to see it.  Apples and orange marmalade.  Loud woods now.  Dark chocolate with creamy filling.  Sticky toffee pudding.  Plum skins.  Very drying.  Should be fruitier than it is.

Thoughts:  Nice enough as it is, but this could have been much more impressive at cask strength.  Kinda falls a little flat unfortunately.

– Reviewed by:  Curt

– Photo:  Drink Inform