Glenglassaugh Revival

Rating: 11/23 I don't have much knowledge about this. I just obtained a sample to try another offering from Glenglassaugh. Nose: Light. Some faint toasted nuttiness that's quite rich. Not much alcohol scent, but I do detect a hint of a meaty funk. Some slightly charred dried grass emerges later, then something distinctly grainy that's also somewhat tart and rich. Like sourdough bread? Perhaps a hint of buckwheat is present too. Palate: This is young with a substantial amount of alcohol. There's a decent amount of burn here as well, though it isn't overwhelming. Despite the ABV, the palate is a bit thin too. I get some light nutty and fruity (light, slightly floral cherry with faint tangerine) notes suggesting that something in here had a sherry finish. I also get some nutty maltiness mixed with grass and some smoke. A little cinnamon comes out at times and I get a touch of vanilla too, mixed with a dash of white chocolate. The sweet maltiness and sherry briefly turn into sort of an artificial caramel flavor, kind of like some barleywines have. I suspect some PX finishing was happening here for at least some of the juice in this bottle. There's a hint of sulfur, but not nearly as much as in something like Highland Park 12. I also get a bit of something at times that's maybe sort of like a mellow malted rye flavor with some character from an old fashioned doughnut (made with buttermilk and a hint of nutmeg). There's isn't much complexity here and there's a bit of a burn for sure, but the balance - aside from the clear youthfulness - is actually pretty good. They did a good job using a clean distillate for this one. I do get this pure alcohol flavor out of it though that reminds me a bit of vodka. Finish: Clean water with smoky grass, and echoes of the fruit and light nut from the sherry. - Conclusion - Glenglassaugh did a fine job of putting out what is clearly a young whisky here. It's light and not super interesting, but it's pretty sippable. I wouldn't mind having it too much if I didn't want to contemplate anything. On more of a technical level, Glenglassaugh Evolution and Glenglassaugh Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish are better. This is not as far behind as I'd expected though. There's definitely more alcohol going on here, but it has a good quintessential Scotch profile. It actually reminds me a bit of Macallan and is competitive with Glenmorangie The Original. I don't like this as much as the Evolution or PX Finish, but I like it a lot better than I'd expected. This is in the an 11 or 12. There's a really nice, traditional core flavor here, but the spirit is too light and immature. I'm torn, but I think I'll go with an 11.

This was my initial experience with Glenglassaugh, the Revival expression, which I believe is the first one launched after the distillery's reopening in 2013. This whisky has been aged in red wine casks, sherry casks, and ex-bourbon barrels. Bottled at 46% ABV, pale straw color. On the nose, it starts very appealing, but after the first sip, everything falls apart terribly. My first sniff was uplifting since I had no expectations for this dram, and it was all about grapes. Lots of grape aromas, white wine, acetone, star anise, champagne. It's definitely young and rough around the edges, but the nose is very pleasant, like sugar syrup; nice barley sweetness. Very sugary. BUT, after a first sip, the nose became too harsh, it lost some of its sweetness, and the aromas dropped significantly. Not a good sign. On the palate, it's fairly enjoyable and continues the same profile from the initial nosing. Rich grapes, plums, white wine, pepper, and green apples. A second sip brought more apples, but it also became a little rougher. The aftertaste was very simple but decent. Dry finish, with a raw rice sensation, some grapes, and spices. Overall, this is an everyday dram, easy to drink, but even though it aimed to deliver nice aroma and tasting notes, it's inconsistent between sips, with a dramatic decline in its flavor profile. My score for it is a truthful 75 out of 100. I need to explore more from this distillery to form my overall opinion of their range.

Sweet plum, berries, and caramel from beginning to end. The finish is medium, and the strength is perfect for 46% ABV. It's rounded and viscous on entry, lasting after the initial burst. The nose is earthy and sherried with cherry aromas that match the taste. This is a pure, unadulterated scotch. It's a magnificent whisky, astonishingly enhanced for its price. Using this rating system, anything less than four stars is misguided. Those who rate it lower don't understand whiskey. This would easily score 90/100 on traditional scales and is worth the 96 at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. High expectations beforehand due to virtual and actual recommendations, and it met them. Outside of this price range, I wouldn't buy it simply because I'd regret that such a good opportunity came at a higher cost. There's no hint of brine, bitterness, or anything artificial or medicinal. It's close to the angel's share. Satin sherry and silky wine come through. I favor port or any wine finish or maturation in my spirits. This offers a pleasant trifecta of sherry, red wine, and bourbon maturation for me. However, one letter prevents this from being my ultimate dram: the 'e' for ethereal. Of all its qualities, it is not dreamy. A dream spirit should simply be that. This spirit does entice and create desire with its touch of toffee. A masterpiece from the Highlands.

NOSE: Predominantly red wine influence, sherry, dark fruits, and honeyed oak. PALATE: Quite sweet with buttery oakiness. Lighter fruit notes than suggested by the nose, plus oak spice. It has a surprisingly fuller body than a typical highland whisky at this price point, though its youthfulness is evident. FINISH: Sherry and spices, with more impact than an introductory highland, likely due to the 46% ABV. OVERALL: This dram presents a conflict for me. On one hand, Glenglassaugh succeeded in their goal of creating a distinct entry-level highland single malt using sherry and wine casks. On the other hand, its youthfulness and body are quite apparent in a way that detracts. I think it's worth trying, but unless you're specifically seeking strong wine cask influence, I doubt it will become a favorite. I'd give it 3 stars, plus an extra 0.25 for its uniqueness. P.S.: Perhaps controversially, this dram performs noticeably better in a copita glass than a glencairn. The copita's shape enhances the wine notes on the nose at the expense of minor details, but it also conceals the alcohol and youthfulness effectively – a worthwhile trade-off.

Good heavens, the red wine influence is quite pronounced! Initially, the glass offers notes of clear red fruit, followed by an eruption of strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and plums... a mix of sweet and tart, where sherry and wine combine to dominate the aroma. Beneath this fruity layer, hints of marzipan, nutmeg, dried dates, and some hazelnuts emerge. The impact of the barrels is very substantial, perhaps excessively so. And it's the sherry that leads the palate, feeling quite thick, with raisins soaked in alcohol, cinnamon, a touch of pepper, dark chocolate, plums, and a mild woody undertone. It's warm and smooth, yet rather bland and repetitive. A medium finish, with a slight ashiness, spice, wine notes, cherries, and wood. Definitely the least engaging of the three non-age-statement expressions in the core range from Glenglassaugh, the red wine barrel contribution disrupts the aromas on the nose and then practically vanishes on the palate, which remains in the vein of the countless sherried whiskies already available. Certainly, it's not undrinkable, especially considering the price, but it's largely forgettable.

I've seen this bottle many times but passed it over for more recognized single malts at its $50 price point. It was on sale for $35, so I decided to try it. I must say, it's definitely worth $50; this is delicious scotch. Non-chill filtered and natural color indicate the quality of this distillery. Poured neat with a drop of water, it really opens up. The nose has peach marmalade, dried apricot, thick malt, and toasted oak with sea salt. The palate is creamy, rich malt, blended yellow fruits, and a stick of salted butter melted in. Light barrel oak and char on the edges. The finish has lingering malt and salt, fading fruits, and gently drying woods. It strikes an excellent balance between sweet and savory with great texture and a strong malty presence (which I enjoy). Deep flavors despite being No Age Statement. I got a great deal, but I recommend it at its regular price without hesitation... 87/100... This one surprised me, and the score might increase as I consume more of the bottle.