Glen Garioch 29 Year (1988), Thompson Brothers
Whisky: Glen Garioch 29 Year (1988), Thompson Brothers
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 46.2%
Cask: Refill Hogshead
Age: 29 Years (Distilled 12 May 1988, Bottled 2022)
Nose: Citrusy and floral, perfumed, subtle salt and caramelized sugars, Maillard effect, coastal florals, more baking spice and carrot cake with time.
Palate: Light-bodied and gentle, perfumed citrus and florals, seasoned iron pans, ginger beer, edible florals, baking spices.
Finish: Long and mellow with floral peach tea and fried pastries.
Score: 8 (86)
Mental Image: Edible Foraging at the Wedding Reception
Narrative & Notes: Gentle and reserved, tart citrus fruits and lemons spilled into orange blossoms and orris to take on an almost perfumed quality. Subtle layers of salt and caramelization, like a seared shoyu glaze, drifted alongside heather and dried beach grass in the background. A bit more baking spice and molasses developed into gingerbread and carrot cake with more time. Light-bodied and gentle with a perfumed profile of citrus rinds and florals; more lavender and orris led to fried squash blossoms with a hint of a hot well-season iron pan, and loroco— an edible flower stuffed in pupusas and pan fried. Ginger beer, hibiscus soda, and baking spices developed with time giving an almost effervescent quality toward the end. The finish was long and mellow with floral peach teas and fried pastries.
I found this rather floral, more so than most of the other reviews I saw when I went hunting to see if anyone else had a similar experience with this whisky. There were a few who noted things like sakura, and I can see that, but most were fixed on plums and peaches— a fruitier side that appeared further in the background to me. Even on subsequent tastings with the whisky, I found it remained on the floral side with plenty of passion flower, squash blossom, loroco, and hints of lavender.
Overall, refreshing and delightful— I could imagine this verging on soapiness for some, but it always felt fresh and clean to me. The finish was impressively long.
