Glenglassaugh is a Highland distillery with a spotty history of closures. The last time was in 1986 back when it was owned by Eddington group who was using it as blend fodder.
It was re-opened by a private group in 2008 and then acquired by Benriach under Billy walker’s tenure in 2011.
So basically what this means is you’ll either find really old 30+ yrs old limited, deluxe releases or NAS releases that are bound to be < 10yrs of age.
Now that it’s owned by Brown Foreman, I am unsure they know how to market it exactly as it doesn’t have the cachet of Glendronach let’s say but in turn it does have the advantage of being malleable as no one yet knows what to expect from them, plus it is said to churn out about 1,000,000L /yr, so they’re bound to do something with it.
OK so this one is NAS and finished in Port Casks.
Nose: Funky, improbable, olives brined in strawberry juice. Then an intense wave of dunnage warehouse & damp basement funk. Lanolin, weird herbs, a bit of ointment, then plums and blackberries.
I like dunnage notes but the weird medicinal fruits clawing their way to top are not very pleasant.
Palate: Berry cough syrup, sweet malty porridge, a good dose of sulfured cask funk, it almost feels like a sherrried malt in the middle of the development. It goes on into dried fruits, astringent mouthfeel, celery leaves,marzipan covered in milk chocolate. A slight melted plastic note also.
Finish: Dry, mouth puckering, overripe Camembert & lingering dried fruit note
Blab: Wow they released this? It’s all over the place unbalanced AF, I thought perhaps I was being harsh but there was a dude there at the tasting who refused a pour saying “Le pink color one, I’ve had it already, non merci”
It feels like a young malt full of asperities, that would become characterful if left alone to do it’s thing for 12+yrs but instead was dumped too early into very wet port casks.
Glenglassaugh Port Cask Finish
46% ABV
66/100
Elegant Bastards 