Whisky: Glen Wyvis 3 Year (2018) Bach 02/18

Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands

ABV: 46.5%

Cask: Tennessee Whisky, First Fill Olorosso Sherry, Refill Hogsheads

Age: 3 Years (Distilled 2018, Bottled May 2022)

Nose: Orchard fruits and green apples, cream, wood, slightly floral with white flowers and vanilla cake batter.

Palate: Medium-bodied, moderately oily, apples and pastry crust, white flowers and herbal tea, honey, butter, yellow cake, vanilla, youthful pepper.

Finish: Medium-length with green apples and slightly bitter oak, a touch of yellow cake.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Apple Turnovers

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was all orchard fruits and pie making with bright green apples tossed in creamy butter with a touch of salt and refined sugar. Cedar wood and old logs gathered further in with floral dogwood blossoms and white flowers gradually shifting toward vanilla cake mix and more apples.  Medium-bodied on the palate with some oily texture and notes of apples and pastry crust.  It was all pie making again with salted butter and malty graham crackers amongst sweet floral honey and yellow cake mix. Canned vanilla cake frosting moved in a floral direction with white flowers and herbal tea joining youthful spirit and pepper near the end.  The finish was medium-length with green apple candies, slightly bitter oak, and a touch of yellow cake mix.

During our stay in Campbeltown we traipsed over to the Ardshiel hotel one evening to admire their impressive whisky bar and take some photos. Well, we did not come for the photos, but the wonderfully friendly staff there insisted that we take a few behind the bar, amongst the many bottles.

I opted to try this Glen Wyvis after spotting the distillery on the menu— one of the new wave that I had never previously tried.  I found the flavors remarkably familiar and this was a fair dupe for Glenfiddich or even some Caperdonich with outstanding apple, yellow cake, and white flower notes.  It was all very mellow and well-composed, if not a touch youthful and peppery, even at the adjusted abv.

Overall, a quality dram, though it felt remarkably like some pre-existing distilleries and I am curious how it will further differentiate itself in the future, especially as the industry faces some headwinds and small operations like Glen Wyvis like the same economy of scale as larger operations.