Glenkinchie 12 Year

The history of Glenkinchie and its late – and now revived – sister distillery Rosebank is an interesting tale. Rosebank was established in the 18th century, just a few decades after its sibling Glenkinchie. Both were situated in the Lowlands. Rosebank lacked picturesque surroundings, being located near the Forth & Clyde canal, where the water flow was obstructed by debris. Glenkinchie remains today in the Kinchie Burn valley (hence Glen-Kinchie), a beautiful location, close to the charming village of Pencaitland. In 1914, Rosebank, Glenkinchie, and three other regional distilleries formed a commercial group named Scottish Malt Distillers, which was acquired by the Distillers Company Limited in 1919 and later became the colossal Diageo. Legend has it that in 1993, Diageo decided to close one Lowland distillery to focus its investment on another. Rosebank was regarded as the premier distillery, as its whiskies were among the finest in Scotland. Those from Glenkinchie, however, were considered merely good. The sensible course of action would have been to close Glenkinchie and keep Rosebank, but this distillery was on a canal with no view, while Glenkinchie was in a classic Scottish landscape. Moreover, Glenkinchie was selected for Diageo's prestigious Classic Malts of Scotland collection, representing different regions (it includes Talisker, Lagavulin, and Oban, among others). Diageo also intended to construct an impressive visitor center, and regarding this matter, there was no debate. Rosebank's fate was sealed by its appearance. Naturally, other factors were involved. Glenkinchie was more well-known, thanks to the Classic Malts group. Its production capacity was also greater. Rosebank, despite the quality of its whiskies, only played a secondary role. Glenkinchie 12 Year Old is a whiskey with a light and delicate body. This lightness is attributed to the size and bulbous shape of its stills, which promote reflux. Based on its sensory characteristics, the educated assumption is that the maturation takes place in American oak that previously held bourbon whiskey. This aligns with the fact that its other offering – the Glenkinchie Distiller’s Edition – is finished in ex-sherry European oak barrels and is of the same age. It is a floral and slightly bitter whiskey, with a moderately sulfuric and brief finish. Although it is not a highly complex or expensive malt for what it provides, it is easy to drink. Source: Cão Engarrafado.

Following my positive encounter with the now-discontinued Glenkinchie 10-year, it's logical to try its replacement as the distillery's main offering. Let's see what the additional two years accomplish for GK. Nose: Prominent dried apricot and golden raisin. Still noticeable, though less so, are apple and pear. Lemon peel. Green tea. Abundant vanilla, caramel, malt, and toffee. Almond. Cocoa, tobacco smoke, and black pepper. Ginger as well. Some floral notes linger in the background, balanced by oak. Palate: Orange and lemon citrus, black pepper, tobacco smoke, and cocoa. Intense apricot complemented by pear and apple. Vanilla, butterscotch, graham cracker, toffee, and caramel. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. Finish: Coffee, vanilla, toffee, and malt. Apricot and lemon. Cocoa, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Medium duration. A refined, solid Lowland. Exceptional stuff. It's a more polished iteration of the 10-year, as expected for a bottling two years older. It's a straightforward, yet pleasing whisky. A bit pricey at $60 for a 12-year. With that said, this is another strong contender from Diageo's Classic Malt collection. The finest Lowland I've had. 4/5.

This might be the palest whisky I have ever seen. It has a surprisingly subtle aroma. When the bottle is first opened, a very sweet scent arises. There’s a honey-like sweetness, followed by a citrusy note that, after prolonged sniffing, resembles apple. There's also an underlying aroma I cannot quite identify—it's similar to chocolate, but I do not believe that's what it is. The initial sip coats the mouth, but there is no burning or sourness. Overall, it has a neutral taste. The woody sensation it leaves on the palate disappears immediately after swallowing. Despite being aged 12 years, it leaves no burn in the throat. This is the first time I have found a whisky more neutral than Glenmorangie. It is a good whisky for simply enjoying scotch and sipping it with pleasure, but for those seeking depth or excitement, it might be too plain.

These are the final 3 samples from the "Regions of Scotland" collection I purchased from Drinks by the Dram. Representing the Lowlands is Glenkinchie 12 year. The only other lowland distillery I've sampled is Auchentoshan, which I'm quite fond of. Aroma: Honey, green grape, cereal Taste: Fruity, pear, grape jam, apple brandy Aftertaste: Medium duration, malty, apple If I were tasting blindfolded, I would have guessed this was the Speyside (which was actually the Benrinnes 15). Overall, I truly enjoyed the crisp, clean flavor of this dram. Unfortunately, a bottle of this is a bit pricey where I am in Canada, so I likely won't be having it again anytime soon.

This is expensive for a 12-year-old, but there aren't many lowlands available. The nose has floral pear and malt with nutmeg-spiced oak. The aroma is rich and inviting. The palate is thick with flavors of poached pear simmered in baking spices and butter. It contains malt, honey, heather, oak, and a touch of salt to balance the sweetness. The finish is a long fade of the palate with slightly drying tannins at the end. This is a very satisfying malt, but it needs to be a few dollars cheaper to truly compete. Its value keeps it from being a 4-star rating, but it's still excellent...89/100...better than many 12-year-old malts, including the similar Aultmore, and almost as good as Cragganmore. It actually brings Dalwinnie 15 to mind. If it were under $60, it would easily be a 4-star.

I'm usually hesitant to revisit these standard single malts, as I often find them disappointing. On the nose, this offering is soft and floral, with notes of crisp apples, lemon peel, and beeswax. Biscuits, cereals, and toffee are present, but it's not particularly exciting. The palate is a pleasant surprise with overripe pears, honey, and ginger. Malty spice, apple compote, and a mildly bitter oak emerge, leading to a caramel, lime juice, and green tea character in the relatively short finish. If I had to describe an average malt, this would be it. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE