Glengoyne Cuartillo

Nose: Cereal, orchard fruit, citrus, caramel, a touch of vanilla, some sherry cask aromas, and possibly a little honey. There's a very faint hint of ash. It's reminiscent of a blended scotch nose, but without the grain whisky component. Palate: Cereal on the initial taste, supported by oak and fruit flavors. A sherry/malty note emerges during the development, alternating between sweet and slightly bitter/sour. The texture is somewhat thin. It again resembles a blend, but this time with the grain whisky present. Finish: Short. The bitter/sour note is the only lingering taste. The aroma is pleasant enough – delicate, and after some time, it develops nice light honey/malt fragrances, but it lacks intrigue. There's nothing specifically bad about it, but there's a fine line between elegantly simple and bland, and this falls on the bland side. The palate actually deteriorates over time, with the bitter/sour note becoming quite noticeable. Overall, this spirit seemed to lack vibrancy – it's the very definition of a "beige" whisky; nothing offensive, but why bother? It reminded me of some of the workhorse whiskies in the Diageo "Flora & Fauna" range that are primarily used in blends, and frankly, it tastes very much like a lightweight blend itself. Perhaps it's suitable as a last-minute duty-free gift for someone who typically only drinks blended scotch, but it's poor value for money. Tasted from a 30ml sample. The reviews from LeeEvolved and washeewashee are spot on. "Average": 78/100 (2.75 stars)

This is a recent, travel retail exclusive, no age statement whisky from Glengoyne named Cuartillo. It's a young spirit that spent its entire maturation in used Oloroso sherry casks that previously held American oak. It has a pale gold color, undefined legs, and appears watery with heavy drops. It's bottled at 40% (a letdown) and I purchased it for $37 from an online UK seller. The aroma offers mostly fresh apples and toffee, with subtle sherry wine notes and light citrus. The oak influence is restrained and doesn't easily emerge from the glass. The taste centers on orchard fruits, specifically apples and pears, with a touch of peppery oak appearing by the middle of the sip. The texture is watery and weak, with hints of young spirit. The conclusion is brief and vanilla sweet, leaving a residue of sawdust. In summary, it's quite uninspired and lacks depth. It's clearly another limited NAS expression, but the low price and liter size do offer some value. Nevertheless, superior whiskies exist, even from Glengoyne. 2.5 stars. Best wishes to you all.

Nose - Honeyed apples & pears, orange zest, caramel, golden raisins, baked green apples Taste - Very thin, sweet lightly bitter pressed apple juice, skin, stems & all, light vanilla frosting sweet, watered down honey, orange pith bitterness Finish - Lingering light tingle, fruity apple stem bitterness, orange pith bitter Score - 70/100 Final Thoughts - The nose is great, but everything changes once it hits the palate. It has pleasant flavors, but it's quite thin, and there's an overall fruity bitterness that's very distracting. Instead of complementing the other flavors, it's the dominant taste, and all you get from start to finish on the palate is this fruity bitterness that seems like they tried to mask it by watering it down as much as possible. Would I drink it if offered? - Maybe Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Subtle notes of honey and vanilla. Some oak is present, though not as much as anticipated. The spice leans towards ginger rather than cinnamon.

Smooth, fruity, nice, with a slight smokiness.

Floral, light finish, weak.