Whisky: Highland Single Malt 27 Year (1994), Gleann Mór Rare Find

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 50.1%

Cask: Bourbon

Age: 27 Years (Distilled 1994, Bottled 2021)

Nose: The clarion call of citrusy lemon and lime with hints of lively calamansi tingled with hints of muddle mint, chalky earth, and stone; graphite and old paper with hints of a peanut butter satay sauce, coriander, and a kiss of salt.

Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced and oily, tart tropical citrus with pineapple, guava, and cured lemons, a touch of vanilla and creamy whipped butter, buttery pastries and chalky earth, more subtle notions of old papers, graphite, and dried grass.

Finish: Medium to long with citrus, herbal tea, and a hint of menthol.

Score: 7-8

Mental Image: Tea Break in the Archives

Narrative & Notes: Beautiful, clear notes of citrus with mellower touches of earth and sea created an imaginary wonderland among old papers and mechanical pencils.  The whisky was balanced and well-structured, with crisp, defined layers of flavor and a beautiful, slightly sweet citrus finish. It occasionally felt like some herbal or grassy funk would come into the frame, but those notes remained at the edges.

I initially tried this blind as part of our online whisky group’s mystery advent calendar.  I had no idea where to go with this; the citrus reminded me of Glen Elgin and Cragganmore, but knowing the group, this could also be an absolutely wild curveball.  Without any hints, I guessed a 20-something Cragganmore, matured in an ex-bourbon cask.

It turns out this was a mystery Highland single malt, which users on Whiskybase pinpoint as either a secret Clynelich or Glenmorangie.  I can see the Clynelish, though it lacked the heavy wax and weight of similar vintages. A friend guessed it was Balblair, which also resonates with me, assuming neither of my guesses was correct.

Overall, a delicious mature Highland whisky with beautiful layers of citrus, grass, minerals, and old papers.  While the distillery's identity will remain a mystery, this was lovely.