For some reason it feels like it’s been ages since I posted a normal review of a whisky. That would mean that the Boutique-y reviews weren’t normal but for some reason it feels like that indeed. Don’t know why though.

Glenglassaugh is a distillery that opened its doors again 4 years ago after having been out of business, or mothballed as they call it, since 1986. That means there is a 22 year gap in production and that is reflected in what is available. The 26 year old is more or less the standard edition at the moment with increasingly rare and pricy drams being released every now and then.

Sniff:

Glenglassaugh 26

A sense of oldfashionedness comes over me. This is whisky how they used to make it in yonder year. There is a certain sharpness to it as well. There’s lots of fruit too with peach, apricot and raisins. A sizeable wood influence and maybe even a trace of peat. Rather light background with dried flowers.

Sip:
Very rich for a whisky of which I didn’t expect it. Now it shows a more bourbon casky influence with gentle spices like ginger and cinnamon. It’s a very well put together mix of all kinds of default flavours. Wood spices, fruit, pepper and even a little bit of a waxy thing going on.

Swallow:
The finish is slightly drying and slightly spicy. Rather rich with quite some wood and a solid base of fruit on which this is displayed. Quintessential highland style whisky!

I tried my sample about a year ago at first and wasn’t too impressed. I think I have grown since then in to the blasphemous ‘smooth and complex’ palate instead of the fruit bombs, spice bombs, sherry bombs, peat bombs and other things that are used by the army.

Now I’ve finished my 5cl and can imagine buying a bottle of this great spirit. I’m not sure I’m a big fan of the truly young things that are being released at the moment, nor the pricing policy of the older bottles. This stuff however, is truly great!

Oh, the things I don’t like, pricing and young stuff, is a necessary evil of course, since they’re a new start-up, there has to be cash flow. Let’s hope they get to 10 years soon and can do the same tricks as Bruichladdich with more a regular release.

Glenglassaugh 26, 46%, OB, available for € 192 at Master of Malt