Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve

During a trip to Scotland, one of the gems I discovered was Glen Garioch. I had never tried one of their whiskies before, and now, after three expressions, I believe they've become a trending topic in my mind when considering a dram. First, a little background: Glen Garioch is pronounced "GLEN GEERIE." This distillery boasts a lot of history; it was founded in 1797 by the Mason Family, who lost and reacquired the distillery several times. One of the Mason brothers discovered that Malaria was spread by mosquitoes, and during World War II, British soldiers slept on the premises, using it as a military base. Additionally, this was the first distillery to use gas for heating the copper stills. Well, let's discuss this expression, the 1797 Founders Reserve, which I believe is a relatively new whisky but has a lot of flavor and is very enjoyable, especially for a NAS. Bottled at 48% ABV, it has a tawny color. On the nose: Red fruits, Strawberry, Tobacco. Very wine-like. Delicious grape juice aroma. Caramel. On the palate: Caramel, Grapes, Raisins, Oak spice. Nice balance between the vanilla flavors and the dehydrated fruits. Chocolate. Aftertaste is great too. Vanilla and tobacco leaf. Oak spice. Some herbal notes. Clove. Very enjoyable. Overall, for $45, this is a great whisky. I would easily recommend it. 88 out of 100; balance is the key word here. Cheers!

Nose: Intense butterscotch, fizzy green apples, green apple hard candies, rose petals and jasmine florals, light heather, honeyed malt, a faint hint of peat, freshly dried herbs (oregano, mint, thyme), coriander, strawberry and apple jam, dark chocolate, ginger, walnuts/nuttiness, a slight old oak character, sparkling nectarine and plum nectar, a hint of toffee, buttercream, guava juice, chocolate and peanut butter covered pretzels, artificial leather, trail mix and cereal with dried strawberries, chocolatey bog saltiness, spicy leather, candied pineapple, old furniture, sweet and sour pickled lemon peel steeped in sweet cream. Palate: spicy plums, effervescent green apples, dried berries and fruit (dried cranberries and raisins), plums with cumin, creamy malt, nutmeg and mace, mixed apple skins, apricots, pear and heathery smoke, a touch of butterscotch and old caramel, some oak tannins and spice, honeydew, white pepper, peaches, ripe Anjou pear. Finish: medium dark chocolate malt powder, mixed apple skins, toffee apples, oregano and thyme, smoky malt, Candied lemon rind and candied lime peel, sweet fruity oak tannins, plum marmalade.

This is a very intriguing spirit. It begins with the aroma, which reminds me of slivovitz - 'plum brandy,' or a plum/pear brandy blend. It has a fruity, sour, alcoholic scent, reminiscent of fruit undergoing fermentation. In contrast, the sip is exceptionally smooth, velvety, and sweet, with a slight tartness, more like a very, very smooth bourbon than a whiskey. It's akin to a pleasant milk chocolate bar (leaning towards the milkier side). It imparts a very gentle and personal feel, perfect for quiet moments when you don't seek to be 'captivated' by the drink. It serves as silent company for contemplation, while watching a good movie, reading a book, or listening to music. I could imagine having more than a couple of drams of this in a good discussion, as it's smooth and not overpowering, yet tasty enough that the glass wouldn't remain full. Yes, it lacks distinctiveness and complexity. However, I don't require all my whiskies to be bold and intricate. I need a range to select the appropriate dram for the right occasion and mood. This is a bottle that fits into my collection. Furthermore, the price is very reasonable.

A nose rich and complex with malt, red berry fruitiness, strawberries, apples, caramel, sweetness, milk chocolate and bitterness, floral notes, a light butteriness, almond, woodiness, toffee, toasted cereals, stewed pineapple, and well-integrated alcohol. The palate is sweet, spicy, fruity with strawberry, apple, pineapple in syrup citrus, toasted cereals, malt, strawberries, strawberry jam, sweetness, an interesting but not intense bitterness, woodiness, dark chocolate, and more pronounced alcohol warmth. The finish is short, dominated by sweetness, bitterness, woodiness, and alcohol warmth. Overall, a good value with notes reminiscent of Glen Garioch 12, but with more youthful exuberance and less intensity. Recommended for sipping neat or on ice.

This is Glen 'Geery' 1797 Founder's Reserve, originating from the eastern Scottish Highlands. It's a non-chill filtered, 48% ABV single malt with no age statement! This marked my first tasting from the eastern Highlands, and considering this is their entry-level dram, I felt it was appropriate. I had this decanted before sampling. The aroma was quite sweet, featuring fresh green apple notes, some mellow honey, and a hint of raisins. The palate was still quite fruity but had considerably more pepper and spices, feeling rather harsh. This is something I've come to expect from entry-level NAS whiskies. The fruitiness didn't carry through to the finish; instead, it offered a significant amount of smoke, some leather, plenty of spices and malt, concluding with dark chocolate. It remained quite harsh. Overall, I quite enjoyed this dram for what it is and simply needed to find the right occasion for it. This applies to most drams, really. It's a casual sipper with a bit of a kick.

On the nose, it seems like a solid Highland scotch, offering buttery florals and rich honey. There's smooth, citrusy fruitiness with a distinct sweetness. It has a bit of a sharp bite on the nose, but it feels appropriate. It's smooth and nice, not overly intense, but rather fresh and quite crisp. On the palate, it's quite hot with a rough attack initially. After a while, it presents lemon juice and soft chocolate, then becomes increasingly nutty, ending smoothly like soft nougat with a hazelnut creme. The finish is short and not very impressive, but again, smooth and creamy. The nose improves later with fresh malt and dry grains. Verdict: It's a nice, enjoyable whisky. Nothing mind-blowing and it feels quite young, but it doesn't really have any negative aspects except for the sharpness.