This Glen Garioch was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and originally entitled “Fifties mouthwash.” The Society tasting notes explained that the dram’s profile had elements which lent the impression of an “older style highland malt.”  Since the TTB in the US must approval alcohol labels, and does not typically permit labels to directly reference food, drink, or other consumables, the US chapter of SMWS frequently has to change the bottle names… hence this was reworked to “Fifties nostalgia.”They have even cracked down on food images on SMWS bottles requiring bottle art to be reworked. I have to imagine that if you go through the trouble and expense of buying SMWS whisky, you know its not really meringue flavored…

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Whisky: Glen Garioch 19 Year (2003), SMWS 19.65 “Fifties Nostalgia”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 57.5%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 18 Years (Distilled 17 Feb. 2003)

Notes: The aroma carried the soft touch of ambrosia with a hint of musty garage. Tinned fruits, marshmallows, and coconut shavings claimed to be a salad, while old paint cans and a petrol tin rusted in the garage. A touch of new carpet and wispy cigarette smoke from the carpenter that installed it lingered with glue, wooden pencils, and vanilla. Medium-bodied on the palate and bursting with flavor— ambrosia again with tinned peaches, pineapple, oranges, marshmallow, toasted coconut, and chopped almond. Musty garage shelves lingered in the background with a wispy smoke that must have been my imagination and occasionally fermenting apple juice. The finish was medium-length with mellow fruits, malty pastries, and a hint of an old garage or carport.

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Score: 8 (87)

Mental Image: Ambrosia in Antique Crystal

Conclusion: Fantastic. I had drifted away from these SMWS Glen Garioch after a few too many felt simple and overly sweet, but this pulled me right back. Of course it came out years ago at this point, but sometimes all love needs is a new spark to reignite. This had a wonderful fruitiness and balanced level of sweetness so that it never felt one note or cloying. The extra mustiness in the background, which felt missing on so many other Glen Garioch, provided depth and complexity— it did have an old fashioned vibe.  Overall, beautiful whisky… if I only I had thought to buy a bottle years ago!