Whisky : Glengoyne Teapot Dram; Batch 007

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland

ABV : 59.9%

Cask : First Fill Oloroso European Oak

Nose : Hearty and rich with stewed fruits, cinnamon, and the meaty complexity of beef bourguignon.  The aroma is thick with crushed ripe cherries, brown sugar, and fruity orange Grand Marnier.

Palate :  Medium bodied with the creaminess of an egg cream or a flip cocktail.  Dark Mexican chocolate infused with bright fruity peppers, oranges, and fruits emerges right away.  The flavor profile shifts between stewed stone fruits, bright oaky spices, and dark roasted coffee.  Orange infused chocolates, fizzy ginger kola, and chocolate covered fruit arrangements appear over time as the oloroso influence builds.  On the back end are savory fatty notes from a fruity glazed ham or roast.

Finish : Lingering dark chocolate, citrus peel, and spice.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Tenochtitlán’s Hippest Cocktail Lounge

Something Similar : Bunnahabhain 9Y; Lady of the Glen (similar chocolate/fruit, more tannic)

Something Similar : Glentauchers 15Y; Ian Macleod Chieftain’s (similar Mexican hot chocolate)

Notes :  Absolutely gorgeous balance between a rich thick malty spirit and massive oloroso cask influence.  I absolutely love dark chocolate infused with oranges and fruits and this dram was just stuffed full of those notes with a healthy addition of dry oak spices and a lovely warming heat.  Glengoyne packed a lot of complex full bodied flavors into this dram and I loved the bright kola notes that came through on the mid-palate and the almost savory fattiness near the end which pulled this back from becoming too sweet.

I do not often reach for sherry bombs, but if I were to grab one to keep in my closet, this would be high up on the list of bottles I want there.  Overall, an excellent Glengoyne that really show cases the combination of European oak, oloroso, and a thick maltiness.

Glengoyne’s Copy Text about the Bottle : Until the 1970s, many distilleries used to keep their workers sweet with a daily dram. It was usually a meagre tumbler of new-make spirit, hot off the stills. But not at Glengoyne. Our daily dram was always from a young, flavour-packed sherry cask – so that’s exactly what you’ll find in the Teapot Dram Batch No. 007. What better way to show our appreciation of the team’s time and care? Inspired by the long-gone tradition of our daily whisky ration, the cask strength Teapot Dram Batch No. 007 is deliberately young and bold.