Glen Garioch single malt Scotch whisky is a distiller not known to the general public. Its whiskies tend to be highly regarded among single malt scotch enthusiasts, but the average whisky drinker may have never heard of this distillery. That should change soon with the release of their 1991 vintage single malt scotch. This is simply one of the most exceptional single malt whiskies on the market today.
Bouquet
On the nose, this nineteen year old single malt offers a honeyed overtone with notes of orange peel, marzipan, hazelnuts and a slight whiff of peat smoke. The bouquet is one of the most fully integrated and harmonious noses to be found in any single malt scotch.
Founded in 1794, Glen Garioch is one of the oldest distilleries in all of Scotland, although there was a period between 1968 and 1972 when the distillery was shuttered due to chronic water shortages. In 1972, the "Silent Spring" was discovered on a neighboring property and the water shortage issue was resolved.
Body and Palate
With almost twenty years of age, Glen Garioch 1991 vintage has had enough time to develop a nice mouthcoating body, but given its location in Aberdeenshire, close to the North Sea, the cool marine temperatures have imbued it with a pleasantly oily viscosity. On the palate, Glen Garioch 1991 offers notes of roasted hazelnuts, pound cake, ginger and orange peel before offering some black tea notes in the mid-palate.
Finish
Glen Garioch offers a long, pleasing and complex finish, with the black tea mid-palate giving way to medium peat smoke tones and a slightly salty marine finish. This is a complex, captivating and utterly pleasurable dram.
True single malt scotch aficionados simply must add a bottle of Glen Garioch 1991 to their collection. This is a whisky that will deliver continued pleasure from dram to dram and is a delight to the palate. While Glen Garioch may not be the easiest single malt whisky to find, the results will be well worth the effort.