Whisky : Glenlossie 33 Year (1984), Signatory Vintage

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 56.7%

Cask : Refill Sherry Butt

Age : 33 Year (Distilled 4 Oct. 1984, Bottled 27 July 2018)

Nose : Dried fruits, florals, and spice. Sweet and syrupy with dried fruits and almost earthy notes of graham masala, white pepper, and ginger. Subtle notes of raisins, rice pudding, and candied nuts. Water brought out more floral notes and cherry cola.

Palate : Medium-bodied and quite oily with dried fruits, candied nuts, and hints of tobacco. Lovely syrupy dried dates, cherries, and figs with subtle cinnamon and white pepper. The taste profile matched the nose closely as it transitioned between different levels.  Candied walnut, pecan, and ginger gave this a festival winter vibe and lingered at the end with nutty pastries, brown sugar, and hints of tobacco.

Finish :  Lingering dry cinnamon and spice. 

Score : 6

Mental Image : Wintertime Nut Vendors

Notes : Surprisingly spirited after three decades in the cask, this Glenlossie was lively on the palate and subdued nose. The aroma of the nose closely matched the flavor profile; it was only a change in intensity as the palate was rich and oily with a bright intensity that lingered long into the finish. Occasionally the nutty elements on the palate dipped toward an umami-rancio.

Released as part of Signatory’s 30th Anniversary lineup, this Glenlossie struck a healthy balance between the often delicate malt and cask influence. I love an excellent refill sherry butt, and that particular maturation worked well here.  It contributed a lot to the flavor profile without becoming too overpowering or overly simple. I did not like this as much as some other vintage Glenlossie I tried recently— while it was not simple, it was not complex.  It lacked the depth of some of the other Signatory 30th Anniversary bottles.  I suspect fans of sherry-driven profiles, especially older drier drams, would score this a few pegs higher.

Image Credit: The Whisky Barrel