Whisky: Glen Elgin 11 Year (2009), Single Malts of Scotland

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 59.7%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 11 Years (Distilled 6 Nov. 2009, Bottled 17 Dec. 2020)

Nose: Fruity and creamy, citrus, orchard fruits, clotted cream, spirited prickle, mellow banana, more subtle herbs and wood.

Palate: Medium-bodied, youthful and spirited, bright tropical citrus, orchard fruit, banana, pepper, mellow herbal spice and wood, buttery pastry and tart plum toward the end.

Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with citrusy pith and pepper.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Planet of the Apes-Themed Cocktail Cruise

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was austere and simple, with fruit and cream rising from the vapors. Lemony citrus and bright zest paired with fresh apples and hints of cider as clotted cream and buttery scones developed. A touch spirited at times, the nose was youthful and as banana fruit esters danced above more subtle herbal menthol and wood. Medium-bodied and youthful, the bright malt featured tropical calamansi and lemon citrus, apples and hints of pears from the orchard, and slightly creamy bananas and banana ice cream. Peppery at times with a mellow herbal spice and wood, buttery scones, and tart plums arrived toward the end. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with citrusy pith and pepper.

I tried this blind during our online whisky group advent calendar. I guessed it was an 11-Year Glen Elgin, which happened to be the bottle I submitted for the calendar, and it turned out that I was correct! I am glad I could pick out one of my contributions. I only tried the whisky once a little over a year earlier at a local whisky club Christmas party. While I did not write any notes about it that evening, its estery banana quality was remarkable and memorable— possibly because I did not care for it.

Overall, an interesting malt whose virtues were best experienced in a highball.

Theme: End-of-Year Favorites

The theme this December 2023 is cleaning the house, and the reviews posted this month are either things I did not get a chance to slide into a theme week earlier this year, drams I have poured to celebrate the holidays and end of the school year, or as part of our online whisky group’s mystery dram advent calendar. These are posted in no particular order!