Glengoyne 25 Year

This is number four in the countdown of my remaining samples (a generous benefactor may be rectifying my sample shortage, assuming all goes well with customs). A fantastic whisky. The nose is very rich with spicy, sherry notes. The flavor is brilliant, packed with spice, especially cinnamon from the European oak. It has rich chocolate, prune, and cherry notes, with an aftertaste that seems to last forever. The only flaw is a slightly thin body – more like water than oil, if that makes sense. However, the overall taste and the persistent aftertaste elevate it from a 4.25 to a 4.5, and by the end, even to a 4.75. The average rating here and on Whiskey Base is exceptionally high. While I'm not sure it's perfection, it's a brilliant whisky with excellent balance and amazing flavor. I recall seeing it around $250 USD once, but it's now closer to $350 USD in New Zealand and overseas. If you have that budget for whisky, buy with confidence. I suspect with more time open and further tastings, it might have had a chance to reach the very rare solid 4.75 score. Adding a bit of water and letting it sit for 45 minutes significantly improved it. I previously had a single cask Glendronach that I thought would surpass this, but I was still craving this one afterwards!

What can I say, as of today (June 19, 2020), this is the finest whisky I've ever had. It's complex yet highly balanced and approachable; its essence is universally pleasing. The consistent note I detected is hazelnut chocolate, akin to gianduia, which graces the nose, palate, and finish. Following that is a blend of honey, caramel, sherry, and sticky toffee pudding for those familiar with it. The finish is endless, light, and sweet, with a delightful tingle on the tongue. In short, I've found my ultimate whisky. ______________________________________________________________________________ Come dire, ad oggi (19.06.2020) il miglior whisky che abbia mai bevuto. Complesso eppur molto equilibrato, non inpegnativo: la sostanza è che non può non piacere. La costante che ho trovato è il cioccolato alle nocciole, tipo gianduia, che accompagna naso, palato e finale. Poi un misto di miele, caramello, sherry e sticky toffee pudding per chi lo conosce. Il finale è infinito, leggero e dolce, con un pizzicorio da goduria sulla lingua. Insomma, ho trovato il mio capolavoro.

Nose - Syrupy raisins/prunes/dates, light sweet almonds, dark toffee, mulled red wine, with hints of chocolate-covered cherries. Taste - Sweet ginger/white pepper spice, syrupy dark yet refreshing dark dried stone fruits, dark toffee, lightly tannic, fresh bing cherries. Finish - Long-lasting dark fruity sweetness, dark toffee, ginger spice, chocolate sweetness, fresh bing cherries. Score - 95/100 Final Thoughts - This is quite spectacular and embodies what I imagine a well-executed sherried dram should be. It's very well-balanced with no off-putting flavors. It has a pleasant fruity spice but shows its age gracefully. The sherry influence is amazing but not excessively sweet (this wouldn't be an everyday drink for sure) but leans more towards the dessert category. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

Rich berry notes, high intensity, red wine, grape, creamy thick wood, complexity, rated 2.75. Smoother than the high intensity suggests, with buttery red wine, richness of red vineyards, grapes, some acidity at the back of the palate, bitterness, and a lack of sweetness. It's like having a glass of wine with a slight acidic note. The sherry wine notes give the impression of a glass of wine that's been left out too long, leaving an unpleasant lingering aftertaste, rated 1. Strong, sustained oaky notes from the wine barrel, rated 1.75.

Aroma: a musty warehouse, dark fruit...overripe. This is aged, yet the sherry is dominant, without any oak bitterness. Rich and fruity. Taste: rich, chocolate, butter, sherry, spicy oak. The finish is long, lingering, rich, complex. It's not the most subtle and intricate whisky to examine. It's a sherry bomb and you can clearly tell this uses those European oak casks that impart all sorts of spice flavors.

Nose: Prominent notes of sherry and oak, with some baking spice and a candied fruit sweetness. Palate: Strong sherry and toffee are the dominant initial flavors, followed by the continuing sweet candied fruit with the crispness of ripe apples. Finish: More toffee and that apple character develops further, with some orange peel as well! A wonderful expression from Glengoyne!