Glengoyne 15 Year Shelf Review

Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.

Everything Glengoyne does is slow. But patience becomes a way of life when you boast the slowest stills in Scotland. As I continue to explore their core range of whiskies, I’m happy to have arrived at their 15 year expression. This midrange offering is made up of a combination of ex-bourbon, first fill sherry, and refill sherry casks and boasts a 43% ABV and features non-chill filtration. The addition of 5 years of aging and bump in ABV compared to their 10 year promises this should be a significant departure from their entry level 10 year.  I was lucky to find this 3 bottle sample pack at Hi-Times in Costa Mesa.

Age: 15 Years

ABV: 43%

Cask: Combination of Bourbon and sherry cask.

MSRP: $80

Distillery Name: Glengoyne

Review Date: 2/28/22

Nose: Malty sweetness, floral – like a bouquet of fresh cut roses, toasted Crème Brûlée, wood oil, and a slight sherry funk. A good solid nose that hits on the classic Glengoyne profile.

Palate: More sherry on the palate with great sweetness, a touchy of mustiness, and an oily texture. Malt forward (like the nose), sweet cream, orange peel, and almond paste. Truly delicious.

Finish: Bright medium length finish. Pine nuts, gingers, toasted wood, and an overall drier finish than the palate. Builds into a healthy heat that punches above the 43% ABV.

Score: 92

Would I buy again? Glengoyne 15 is a big step up from the 10 year expression, with a much better mouthfeel, with more body and flavor and less of the grassy notes I found on the 10. At the price point, I find this to be a rewarding pour that could easily keep me entertained throughout an entire evening. I would absolutely grab a full bottle of what might be the sweet spot in Glengoyne’s core range.