Glenturret 12 Year, 2020 Maiden Release
Whisky: Glenturret 12 Year, 2020 Maiden Release
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 46%
Cask: European Oak Cask
Age: 12 Years (Bottled 2020)
Nose: Dried fruit, black tea, hints of tobacco, musty worn leather, subtle barbecue char, dark chocolate with time.
Palate: Medium-bodied, restrained sweetness, dried fruit, leather, wood, musty, tobacco, earthy barbecue.
Finish: Medium-length fruit and barbecue.
Score: 6-7
Mental Image: Comfy Padded Leather Chairs
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was classy and pleasant, with bowls of dried dates, plums, star anise, and black tea leaves. A mustiness ran through the dried fruits with tobacco-scented soft leather chairs carrying on to a slightly earthy barbecue char with dark chocolate arriving with more time. Medium-bodied with a retrained sweetness and dried fruit, leather, and earthy barbecue notes. Dried fruit drifted toward grilled fruit with caramelized peaches and nectarines before candies with hints of butterscotch arrived with leather and fragrant rosewood on the middle palate. A mustiness carried throughout with tobacco, spice, earth, and barbecue char. Medium-length, the finish continued notes of fruit and barbecue.
A pleasant and well-balanced whisky, I enjoyed the Glenturret 2020 Maiden Release. It was not a blow-your-socks-off dram, but it was eminently drinkable and enjoyable— a lose-yourself-in-thought sort of whisky. I do not always want a cask-strength scotch when I am in the mood for a dram, and this would be a fantastic option for those more relaxed or subdued evenings. The sweetness was nicely restrained and the flavors well-integrated. If this is just the Maiden Release, I cannot wait to see where the distillery goes next.
Overall, I enjoy Glenturret, especially when there is some peat in the mix, and this fits the bill.
Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer
