Whisky: Glen Grant 13 Year (1993), James MacArthur Cask 121926

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 57.7%

Cask: Bourbon Cask

Age: 13 Years (Distilled 1993, Bottled 2007)

Nose: Green apples and apple candies upfront; herbal and malty with pastry crust, olive oil, a kiss of salt and thyme, dehydrated apple slices, dried grass, and heather.

Palate: Medium-bodied, bright and crisp, apple and lemon peel gummies, pastries and herbal tea lingered in the background, slightly tropical and oily at times with guava and mango, oak and heather toward the end with more herbal tea and grass.

Finish: Medium to long with fruity candies and peppery oak.

Score: 6-7 (79)

Mental Image: Apple Pie and Focaccia Flavored Jelly Beans

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was mellow and austere; big green apple and apple candy notes slowly parted as herbal spices threaded through buttery, flaky pastries arrived. Focaccia came to mind as salt and nutty, sweet olive oil joined thyme and hints of rosemary.  The palate was a far fruitier affair with big orchard fruits and citrus notes gradually turning to something a bit more tropical. Herbal tea, spice, and malty pastries hid further in the background, coming out more at the end with dried grass and heather.  The finish lingered with good intensity and simple notes of orchard fruits, sugary candies, and oak.

After such a mellow introduction, I expected the palate to be equally austere and plain— yet it was practically bursting with bright, crisp, and slightly oily fruits. It was not a complex affair, but there was a good transition and development— it was simple enough to sip on and enjoy but complex enough to draw one’s attention. The finish was a bit peppery and spirited.

Overall, this lovely, balanced Glen Grant provided a recognizable snapshot of the distillery from thirty years ago, or the young malts bottled a decade and a half ago.