Glentauchers 14 Year (2005), Hart Brothers
Whisky: Glentauchers 14 Year (2005), Hart Brothers
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 53.6%
Cask: First Fill Sherry Butt
Age: 14 Years (Distilled June 2005, Bottled March 2020)
Nose: Orchard fruit and baking spice, caramel, musty dried fruits, grape jelly, Twizzlers, a touch of leather and spirited prickle.
Palate: Medium-bodied, juicy, tropical fruits, orchard fruits, fruity gummy candies, hints of aniseed and clove.
Finish: Medium-length with fruit leather and a touch of spice.
Score: 6
Mental Image: Cacophony of Gummies
Narrative & Notes: Apple and pears provided a crisp orchard fruit aroma studded with cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of cloves and aniseed. Sweet caramel led to mustier notes of grape jelly, dried fruits, and fruit-flavored gummies, with Twizzlers standing out from the crowd. A touch of leather arrived with the general musty quality of the fruit and a spirited prickle that settled nicely with water. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was juicy, with guava, soursop, and pineapple opening up before apples and pears took the main stage with caramel in support. Fruity gummies, Fruit Gushers even, and jam lingered at the end with a touch of aniseed and clove. The finish was medium-length with fruit leather and a touch of spice.
If you are going to do only one thing, you better do it well. What this dram lacked in depth or complexity, it made up in its crystal clear embrace of fruit-flavored gummies with a juiciness that lent the impression of grape or strawberry Fruit Gushers. Despite the candy-centric nature of the flavor profile, I never found the whisky too sweet; I am usually sensitive to the saccharine quality of a dram, so I was impressed at the balance here.
Overall, a lovely jaunt to sherry town. This originally retailed for 100 USD which is not a bad price but not as advantageous as other Hart Brothers releases from the last several years. I thought a bit of water quieted the spirited notes on the nose, though too much water brought out some tobacco and woody bitterness on the palate.
