Whisky: Glen Garioch 20 Year SMWS 19.52 “Firm and classical”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 58.1%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 18 Years (Distilled 17 Feb. 2003)

Nose: Subtle and grassy with honeysuckles, wild mint, and dandelion greens, honey, mellow citrus and an underlying chalkiness, ginger with hints of lemongrass, banana, and spirulina.

Palate: Medium-bodied with oily and chalky elements, honey, bruised fruits, pineapple, mango, ginger, mint, mountain guava, lilikoi, hints of tangerine, mint, and grass.

Finish: Medium-length with citrus, grass, and a subtle spirit heat.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Fruit Smoothie Artist’s Studio

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was very green— notions of grass, dandelion greens, wild mint, honeysuckles, spirulina, and green banana. A healthy smoothie! With kale and lemon, hints of citrus, and a drizzle of honey to sweeten the experience. The palate was medium-bodied with boozy bruised fruits and an underlying minerality. Chalky elements, which appeared on the nose, became more assertive as if I were coloring with sidewalk chalk while sipping a mango, ginger, and lime smoothie. Hints of guava, pineapple, and lilikoi, slightly bruised and collecting while hiking, dazzled in the background as the dram became more oily. Tangerine citrus and grass lingered at the end, carrying through the finish with subtle ginger.

Our local whisky club offered this bottle as part of a “take-away” tasting, something we have not done much of since we can finally meet again. While virtual tastings got us through 2020 and most of 2021, by the end, we were all missing human contact— and the ability to all speak at once. Microphone and mute etiquette were a work in progress as we managed groups of varying sizes online— though they got smaller by the end as everyone burnt out. So this dram was an exception, one of the final ones for people to take home and taste without the big group.

Overall, a delicious and lovely Glen Garioch; the fruity nature of the distillate shone through as the bourbon cask accentuated the underlying musty fruits. SMWS noted more earthy tones than I picked up, especially on the nose. Perhaps our interpretation of the very “greenness” of the dram moved us toward what we know best— hiking in Scotland or vibrant green smoothies. They also highlighted more savory notes on the palate, which I found to be quite fruity with no shortage of oily and chalky notes.