Whisky: Glenugie 30 Year (1977), Signatory Vintage Cask 5507

Country/Region: Scotland/Highlands

ABV: 46.3%

Cask: Hogshead

Age: 30 Years (Distilled 18 Oct. 1977, Bottled 10 Dec. 2007)

Nose: Dried tropical fruit apricot and golden kiwi fruit leather, syrupy, tinned pineapple, upside down cake; beautifully tropical, key lime, tarts and desserts, lilikoi syrup, coconut lifesavers!

Palate: Medium-bodied, big tropical fruits, citrus, and honeycomb/beeswax, creamy orange and lilikoi, subtle florals and plumeria, Capri-Sun fruit punch, coconut lifesavers and candies, tin cans and wood toward the end.

Finish: Long and drying; milk chocolate, musk, and herbal tea.

Score: 9 (92)

Mental Image: Back to the Future IV: Beach Surfing Safari

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was tropical and creamy, with tons of citrusy pineapple touched by tin, golden kiwis, and oranges— an absolute buffet of canned juice and creamy popsicles.  Upside-down cake pushed in a maltier direction, while a vein of tangy key lime introduced creamy tarts and toasted sugars. Hints of florals lingered behind passion fruit while big coconut Lifesavers blasted out nostalgia on full volume.  Medium-bodied, the palate reprised many of the same themes with an underlying creaminess that turned toward beeswax at times. Floral elements came on stronger with Capri-Sun fruit punch and Island Sun’s canned passion-orange juice.  The finish was long and dry— not overly sweet— with subtle milk chocolate, musk, and herbal tea.

This was an absolute tropical beast from a distillery whose name sounds utterly invented and made up— as if someone was half-remembering Glenburgie but dropping a few letters. I splurged to win this bottle at auction a few years back and opened it to celebrate a major life event with fellow whisky friends. I was surprised at just how good it was— I honestly did not expect much.

The bottle was a YOLO buy, a closed distillery I was unfamiliar with, and while I hoped it would be good, I had no idea what to expect. Maybe that seems odd, but I expected the occasion would make the bottle and, at the very least, for it to be delightful to share with friends. The fact that it was fantastic was a plus, especially as I doubt many of us will encounter any other Glenugie soon.

Overall, a special bottle to mark a special occasion— it lived up to the moment and the wife placed it as an S-tier bath scotch, truly high praise.