Girvan 24 (1994) Single Cask Cask Strength (Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask)

I marked this on 12/23. It was a day for celebration as I got my first dose of the CoViD vaccine. The quest for a vaccine felt like a unique journey through town, and getting the shot was a bizarre pleasure. A whisky with an unusual and uncertain profile seemed fitting. This 24-year-old Girvan, an independent bottling from bottle 100 of 146, fit the 'unique' bill. Its production of both Grant's and Clan MacGregor raised questions about its quality, making it feel quite uncertain. Nose: A funky, meaty note is present, less sulfuric than some but noticeable. Alongside this are tart, lemony citrus notes and emerging floral scents. Not much else is apparent. Palate: More engaging than the nose suggested! It starts fuller and sweeter, with pleasant maltiness before tart lemon peel and lemon flower aromas arrive. The bourbon barrel's influence is subtle, adding layers of vanilla, spice, and mild caramel for complexity. There's a gentle woodiness, but it's not overpowering. The spirit's underlying grain character still shows some youth, but extended, gentle aging has smoothed out most unpleasant aspects. The balance is good, and the complexity is subtle but solid. While there's some harshness, it blends acceptably with the spices, lemon, and caramel. Its low cask strength makes it drinkable without dilution. The caramel and mustiness evoke Balcones Single Malt, while the mustiness combined with wood brings to mind Garrison Brothers Small Batch, though the similarities are slight. Finish: The finish is affected by lingering harshness. Conclusion: Considering it's a single grain aged in a bourbon barrel, the 24 years seem plausible, though I'm not adept at aging single grains. It drinks more like a 12-to-15-year-old scotch but gains enhancement from a musty complexity. However, a 1992 Glen Grant from Càrn Mòr (26 years old, similar proof) offered a more compelling musty maturity with greater richness, complexity, and balance. This Girvan tastes younger and less developed, though oilier. The Glen Grant also presents a cleaner, more refined flavor, making me reconsider its merits compared to Dalwhinnie 15 and appreciate Glen Grant 18 more. I should re-evaluate the Glen Grant. Back to the Girvan. Compared to Dalwhinnie 15, I might have guessed the Dalwhinnie was older, unless I factored in the 'slower aging' of single grains. The oiliness here is key. Its aged character versus Highland Park 12 is debatable. This is harsher, while Highland Park 12 is more sulfuric. Harshness might suggest age in a single grain, whereas pungent sulfur often indicates youth. Against Pure Scot (from Bladnoch), this Girvan is less harsh but less muddled. Pure Scot might be richer, but its flavors are inferior. The Girvan's oiliness balances Pure Scot's richness. Still, Pure Scot's appeal could detract from the Girvan. Càrn Mòr's Cambus 27 (1991) shares youthful harshness but is funkier with less oil. I might choose Cambus for its uniqueness, but this Girvan is more approachable. Balcones and Garrison Brothers share some elements with this, as does Buffalo Trace in its straightforward representation of its type, though this Girvan seems older. I fluctuate between appreciating its maturity and being put off by youthful elements and moderate complexity. I'd estimate 12 to 14, perhaps a 13. It's worth experiencing for its interesting maturity and oiliness, but not a bottle I'd seek. It's comparable to Cambus, possibly a 13 or 14 for Cambus, and this Girvan around 12 to 13. I'll settle on a 12. It would excel in a blend but isn't outstanding alone.

Review: 12/23 Finished the bottle. I've had this for a long time and sampled it multiple times, but I've never really liked it. Nose: It starts with lemon peel and something like dirty water, similar to a soiled kitchen towel. After a while, that towel scent lessens, and I get more of that sharp grain whisky character with a touch of manuka honey. Perhaps a whisper of orange zest. The aroma is still somewhat rough, but it has improved. If I let it sit longer, the dirty towel smell returns. Palate: Lemon peel with slightly undercooked caramel, a sharp grainy sensation, a hint of funk (almost hogo), and bitter mocha. A touch of cherry or something similar emerges from the hogo. It's an unusual mix that isn't as strong as I recall, but it's certainly not very pleasant. For me, the primary issues are the harshness and that faint dirty towel taste. If those elements were absent, it would still taste a bit young and funky, but without any actual faults. Taking a larger sip, the grain alcohol stings. Finish: The mocha, hogo, dirty towel, and bright lemony grain persist for a while. The caramel note also faintly remains. - Summary - This offers a more engaging character than Compass Box Artist's Blend (13/23), with a richer taste. However, it's harsher with that strange dish rag funk and lacks good balance. The two drinks are surprisingly similar. Before this tasting, I considered lowering its rating from a 12 to perhaps a 10 or 11. I no longer feel that way. Identifying the hogo and mocha here significantly altered my perception. These two flavors account for most of the peculiar notes I detected previously, making them surprisingly pleasant. This is suddenly a much richer, more indulgent dram. Monkey Shoulder (14/23) is smoother than this, with no unpleasant tastes, but it also seems watery and unexpectedly young in comparison. At this stage, if not for the harshness, I'd be contemplating higher scores, possibly even above a 14. As it stands, given my past experiences with this dram, I don't believe I can suddenly elevate its score past a 13. And considering the harshness, I don't think a 13 is appropriate. It's unfortunate because finishing this bottle was almost a revelation.

Nose initially is really faint citrus, maybe some lemon bar. After several minutes in the glass some manuka honey, caramel, toffee and French roast coffee notes appear. Still very restrained, yet pleasant. Palate is semisweet and also restrained with lemon, caramel, toffee, pastry and mocha coffee notes. Finish is on the shorter side and makes me think of having a buttered scone with mocha frappuccino. Thanks to a friend for the sample.