This sample came via a friend who stopped by Cadenhead’s in Campbeltown and did the warehouse tour and tasting.  I also had this whisky when I went on the warehouse tour later that same year… I guess the fish were not biting when it came to this bottle.  The tour and tasting are quite fun, though it was the most “manufactured” part of our experience in Campbeltown as it took place in an old garage dressed up with various props. It was incongruous with everything else, but the deciding factor is always going to be: how good is the whisky?

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Whisky: Glen Garioch 11 Year (2012), Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 58%

Cask: Amontillado Finish (4Y)

Age: 11 Years (Distilled 2012, Bottled 2024)

Notes: Sweet honey and sugar candies in a sticky candy store bin— watermelon belts, bubble gum, marshmallows, cotton candy, candy corn… it was a saccharine attack on all fronts.  There was enough spirit to awaken my senses beyond the fruits with some heat and pepper.  More white chocolate covered fruits and dalgona filtered through with kiwis, mint, and crème brûlée. Medium-bodied and a touch oily on the palate, loads fruity candies and a touch of butterscotch ran throughout. A bright spirited prickle and heat lent the impression of cinnamon spice to candied almonds and corn chips— a movie theater snack sampler platter of some sort? Water tamped down the spirit, but elevated the sweetness to cloying. The finish was medium-length with fruity candies, spirited pepper, and a touch of bitter oak tannins.

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Score: 5-6 (74)

Mental Image: Movie Theater Candy Grab Bag

Conclusion: I did not care for this when I tasted it during the Cadenhead’s warehouse portion of our time at the Springbank Distillery… in fact no one in our group bought any of the casks we tried during that side quest. I did not care for this again when I tried the sample I saved from the trip, and I did not care for it yet again when I poured the sample I received from my friend’s bottle. It was hot, sweet, and cask dominant in a way that I did not enjoy. Overall, not undrinkable, but I’ll pass on another pour.