Glenlossie 1997 19 Year Cask Strength (Alexander Murray & Co.)

Well well well, I’m gradually reaching the conclusion for round 6’s samples from the Scotch Distillery Team. This remarkable Speysider is from Glenlossie Distillery and was provided by my friend. Glenlossie was established by John Duff back in 1876. They share warehouse space with nearby Mannochmore Distillery and are owned by Diageo. They produce 1.1 million liters annually that are used in quite a few undisclosed blends (likely a significant component of Haig Club, though there's no official confirmation). Their sole official distillery releases are the Flora & Fauna by Diageo and a “Manager’s Dram”. The distillery is surprisingly private and does not offer tours or permit visitors. But, they produce some excellent whisky... This specific bottling is from independent bottler, Alexander Murray, and is a cask strength 19-year-old that was distilled in 1997. It has a very light gold color and forms small droplets and undefined legs in the Glencairn. It’s bottled at 53.3% ABV. The nose is incredibly strong with alcohol notes immediately upon pouring, but after allowing appropriate time, some light fruits like pears, peaches, and watermelon (WATERMELON!) emerge and just make you want to dive right in. There’s some freshly cut oak lurking in the background and some floral notes, too. The aroma alone is intoxicating. The palate is very fruity: orchard fruit, fresh orange wedges with little to no barrel influence. It’s not harsh at all for being 53% and it’s incredibly mouthwatering and smooth. I wouldn’t call it complex because it’s a big fruit basket with alcohol warmth smoothing the edges. The finish is quite long - I typically find that super fruity Speyside whiskies end too quickly and are too sweet, but this one just keeps going and going. Even the finish is fruity and warming. Some woody dryness appears at the very end, but it's almost a welcome conclusion. So, I have to say, this one hits all the great marks for a Speysider. Exceptionally juicy and fruity, deceptively powerful cask strength (I say that meaning you can easily drink a lot of this and end up face down on the carpet), and with a generous, long age statement of 19 years. A triple win! I believe a certain person paid somewhere near $120 for this, and I think that’s an excellent price for all the reasons mentioned. I think I need to find a full bottle of this for myself. It's good stuff. Easily 4.25 stars, but I'm rounding up because it's been the best malt for this round in my opinion. Cheers, my friends.

This stop on the tasting journey features a distillery from Speyside that is not widely known. This 19 year old single malt comes from independent bottlers. Distilled in 1997 and bottled at cask strength of 53.3% ABV, it is non chill filtered and has a natural golden straw color. The nose is intense and sweet, with honey, honeysuckle, and vanilla. Clear notes of ex-bourbon are present. There are hints of light leather and tobacco with some oaky sawdust. It's perfumed with a vague fruitiness and vegetal notes. A touch of candle wax and a hint of cherries are detected. Adding water brings out white grapes, peaches, and oranges. While it sounds like I identified these flavors easily, it was actually quite challenging to discern them. The palate has some heat, but it's quite manageable. It's sweet, but a bit unusual. Light oak, apricots, nectarines, and mango are present, along with a slight bitterness. If the nose was difficult to decipher, the palate was nearly impossible. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied, very oily, and mouthwatering. This was the saving grace of this dram. A medium-length finish, with fruity, waxy, and slightly bitter notes. I have to say this dram was like a pistachio I couldn't crack open. I knew there was something delicious inside, but I couldn't figure out how to access it. Water helped a little, but not enough. At its price point, it's not worth it. It's not a bad spirit, but it's not exceptionally good either. I'll rate it 3.25 and admit it got the better of me. Thanks to a friend for the sample. Cheers

On this Good Friday, during the national quarantine of 2020, I'm revisiting this spirit provided by a friend during our tasting. It has a golden straw color. A floral and sweet start that is inviting. Like honeysuckle blossoms on a warm spring day, with honey and vanilla. There's a subtle earthiness reminiscent of damp hay/straw/pinewood sawdust, leather (like a new baseball glove), and fruitiness similar to Luxardo cherries. The initial taste is surprisingly sweet, gradually becoming bitter and spicy. With subsequent sips, flavors become more discernible. Apricots and mangoes appear briefly before being overtaken by woody spices. The finish is bitter and slightly sour, with orange and lemon rinds and oak tannins that persist for a moderate duration. With a good amount of water, a gentler character emerges. The nose reveals hints of ripe Concord grape and barley sugar. The spirit becomes more approachable and sweeter on the palate. Ripe apples, honey, and grapes are present. The nose, palate, and finish feel a bit disconnected. Individually, they are not bad, but the combined experience is less than the sum of its parts. Water improves it and is recommended. The bitter finish detracts from the overall enjoyment. The sweet qualities are strong and pleasant. It's a decent dram, but not one that would make me want to revisit it frequently. [84/100][Tasted: 4/11/20]

The final few servings from the sixth of seven rounds, provided by a friend. I had never heard of Glenlossie until today... and it's surprisingly decent. Likely the best of our standard offerings in round six. A friend might say I'm acting spoiled, but I actually finished this one. I didn't know what to expect, but it was a pleasant surprise with evolving characteristics, moving from aromas of freshly cut oak, citrus peels, and some type of melon... honeydew? Watermelon? That's certainly unexpected. It's like spending an evening with your college girlfriend and her best friend. You know it's probably not a good idea. It can't possibly end well. But it's surprisingly enjoyable. I'm not sure you'd want to repeat it, as it might be too much of a good thing. Thanks to my friend.

On the nose, I detected red roses, watermelon, peaches, very faint tobacco, and some oak characteristics. This requires just a couple of drops of water since it's cask strength. The palate revealed white grapes, light cherries, pears, slight green beans, and a touch of pineapple. It's a very unusual combination, but it works. The finish is a little dry, but it lingers with a pleasant heavy mouthfeel. It's a difficult one to refuse. As someone might say, it's an attractive person who is available and ready, but you know they're a bit eccentric. Haha... Anyway, back to the point... the theme of this dram is something great, but slightly "off." Rating: 3.5. I'm thinking of the song "Sex and Candy" by Marcy Playground. Cheers!

A sophisticated Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Glenlossie Distillery in Speyside, Scotland, bottled by Alexander Murray from California at 53.3% ABV. It consists of 3 batches of 1997 vintage Single Malt, aged for at least 19 years in refill ex-Bourbon hogshead casks. It offers an aromatic beginning with notes of granola, apple, orange zest, and heather; its rich and complex profile adds flavors of fruits, grains, fresh herbs, wine tannins, cherry, and vanilla; culminating in a long and oily conclusion. August 2020 / 2022