Glengoyne 10 Year Review
In-Depth Review
Glengoyne distillery, located directly on the border of the Lowlands and the Highlands, famously states that it has “the slowest stills in Scotland”. In many ways, Glengoyne takes almost a craft distillery approach to whiskey, focusing on methods that prioritize patience over efficiency. For example, they tout that their barrels takes six years to prepare and instead of drying their barley over peat or direct flame, Glengoyne instead dries only using air. Even the location of Glengoyne is unique – being the only distillery that can say that their whiskey is distilled in the Highlands and aged in the Lowlands due to the border running straight through the facility itself.
I haven’t had a huge amount of experience with Glengoyne but I recently picked up a 50ml sample set of the core expressions, which includes: a 10 year, 15 year, and 18 year. I will start off with their entry level 10 year expression, aged exclusively in sherry cask (based on color likely second or third fill) and with only natural color. At 40%, it’s definitely aimed at a more mainstream audience, but I’ve heard great things from this unique distillery. So let’s dive in and explore!
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40%
Cask: Sherry Cask
MSRP: $50
Distillery Name: Glengoyne
Review Date: 2/5/22
Color: Dull Gold
Nose: The nose starts off soft but full of aroma. Notes of fresh cut grass, agave syrup, orange marmalade and honeydew welcome you before transitioning to a light touch of cinnamon and mint. There is a lightly toasted oak backbone with strong raisin and sherry influence evident after a few minutes in the glass that provides a fantastic and rewarding nose for a relatively young whisky.
Palate: The palate starts off with a strong, sweet maltiness that creates a soft and gentle mouth-coating texture. Notes of toasted hazelnut, almond, and vanilla melds together with milk chocolate and a slight sherry sweetness. Immediately, this Glengoyne feels creamier and more rewarding than the Glenrothes Select Reserve I sampled before, with a stronger malt forward personality. The sherry influence isn’t huge here, which further bolsters the argument these are likely 2nd or 3rd fill sherry barrels.
Finish: Short to medium length with a bit more spice and oak coming to life in the finish. And while the sherry influence played a background role on the palate, more of that traditional nuttiness and umami flavor makes an appearance as the whiskey fades away.
Final Thoughts: This Glengoyne 10 year is an elegant entry level offering that provides a light sherry influence and a strong malt forward character. While the excellent may be my favorite part, it’s followed quickly by the fabulous nose. Even at 40%, the nose is soft yet complex, allowing the spirit to shine while showing just enough of its sherry cask roots. This expression from Glengoyne is an easy drinker that has just enough allure for even the seasoned whiskey pro.
