Glengoyne 10 Year

Another long overdue review. I’ve had many a pour and a couple of bottles of this stuff, and have yet to give this a proper review. I don’t think this needs much an intro as the entry level offering of Glengoyne—a somewhat under-appreciated but fairly prominent Highland distillery. Nose: Gala apple, pear, apricot, and white grape. Through in some orange citrus and golden raisin. It’s light and fruity, similar to its older brother, the 12. There’s also vanilla, caramel, toffee, malt, and butterscotch. A classic Highland malt. Rounded with toasted almond and walnut, with a hit of oak spice. Some ginger as well. Palate: Chewy caramel, vanilla, toffee, and malt. Plenty of butterscotch. More of the walnut and almond. White grape and golden raisin. A touch of white chocolate. Heavily floral. Marshmallow and honey. Apple, pear, apricot. Sugar cookie. Finish: Caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and vanilla. Sugar cookie and brown sugar. Milk chocolate. Toasted almond, walnut, and oak. Medium length finish. Solid entry level whiskey. This has a classic Highland profile. And while it may not be the most unique, it is one of the cleanest and most well-rounded representations of its region you’ll find. Especially at the cost. This has seen a price hike, as has everything since I first bought it. But it’s still very reasonable at $50. More than enough of a bargain to have me coming back for more. 3.75 boosted to 4 even for value for money.

This distillery is often compared to another, but in my experience, it has never lived up to that reputation. I've tried some of their more premium selections, but surprisingly, I had never sampled the 10-year-old before. Now it's time for me to evaluate one of the well-known whiskies from the Scottish Highlands. Bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. On the nose, it's not bad. Hay, shortbread, Danish cookies. A little rough and grainy; it smells like a mountain meadow. Peach and chocolate emerge after letting it breathe. Vanilla notes are present. On the palate, it initially has chocolate and nutty flavors. It's a bit rough and grainy. Acetone is detected. The second sip revealed creamy vanilla and chocolate. The finish is simple but very appealing. Salty, sulfuric, and a little short, but with a wonderful chocolate conclusion. Overall, for an inexpensive 10-year-old, this is a very enjoyable dram. I believe most enthusiasts have tried this, and considering its price, they find it hard to beat. Perhaps this is why the distillery has so many fans. A good offering, very balanced though slightly rough, my rating for it is 80 out of 100.

Overall Score: 3.0. Nose: Distinct apple scent, soft green grape scent that isn't prominent, fruity, a little spicy. It has a refreshing and rich sweet scent. Palate: Sweetness, slightly muted, a little spicy, light, fresh, and clean. Finish: Smooth woody scent with spiciness. The lingering aroma is long, but the spiciness is brief. Additional notes: Oak and a light sherry aroma in the empty glass.

A fantastic bottle of scotch considering what you pay. I had the good fortune to tour the Glengoyne distillery during my honeymoon in Scotland. I can definitively state that Glengoyne is a top-tier distillery that clearly cares about the spirits they make. I believe the 10-year is truly overlooked. It's delicate, with subtle notes of green apple, mellow, and a superb dram to enjoy. Check out Glengoyne! Among my preferred highland scotches, though I admit I'm prejudiced.

Aroma: Woody, green/herbal, and milky. Taste: Barley, wood/oak, a buttery texture, milk chocolate, and coffee. Aftertaste: Lingering. Salty, woody/oaky, and milk chocolate. This whisky lacks complexity. It's a bit hot but generally a standard, spirit-forward dram. It's palatable enough, with chocolatey and woody elements, though it feels a bit thin for its 40% ABV. Overall, acceptable.

Needed to finish most of the bottle before I could truly appreciate this one. Speyside whiskies tend to be reserved, so I find they often need time to open up. It exceeded my expectations with a raisin-scented aroma that leads to an oaty bite, punctuating a distinctly musty floral character. Similar to the namesake birds, it has a narrow nose, a broad body, and a definite finish. Cheers!