Whisky: Glen Ord 13 Year (2004), Hart Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 52.5%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 13 Year (Distilled May 2004, Bottled June 2017)

Nose: Citrus, chalk, gum, lime zest, dried leaves, subtle herbal with spearmint and lemon grass.

Palate: Medium-bodied, citrus, dried grass, gum, hints of vanilla, nutmeg and ginger, limeade, herbal tea and dried leaves at the end, mellow minerality.

Finish: Medium-length with citrus and tea.

Score: 5+

Mental Image: Glen Ordinary

Narrative & Notes: Clean and refreshing, the aroma was loaded with sweet citrus and herbal notions— freshly squeezed limes and lemons muddled with mint, lemongrass, and cilantro. Hints of tarragon carried on with notions of chalk and unflavored gum. Medium-bodied with a mellow, citrusy profile that varied between sweeter impressions of a ginger lemonade or limeade and more herbal dried grass and autumn leaves. Hints of vanilla and nutmeg danced behind a steady wave of ginger which lingered to the end with herbal tea, dry vegetation, and a mild minerality. The finish was medium-length with citrus and tea.

Relaxing and mellow, easy to sip. No deep thoughts about this stripped-down and basic Glen Ord. One could be excused for thinking it was any number of distilleries with pleasant citrus and herbal profiles. It was perfect for anyone who wants to try the distillate stripped down of any heavy cask influence. Though this was not as waxy as some of the other Glen Ord I have encountered, I thought the mild minerality and chalkiness paired well with the herbal mint.

Overall, simple and pleasant— made for an excellent highball.

Image Credit: Whisykbase