Glen Garioch 1998 PST

Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1998, 27 Years Old 1st Fill Sherry Butt / 597 bottles 49.3% ABV Artwork by: KMG We recently received a butt of Glen Garioch 1998, purchased blind based on the outstanding quality of previous casks from this vintage and with confidence, as the purchase order specified a 1st Fill Sherry Butt . However, upon arrival and during our routine sensory analysis (someone’s gotta do it), it became immediately apparent from visual assessment that this was not typical of 1st fill Oloroso or PX sherry, as we had initially expected. Instead, the spirit presented pronounced saline notes, followed by chamomile and fresh bread dough – characteristics that strongly suggest this cask is, in fact, a 1st fill Fino sherry butt. We are now highly confident in that conclusion. The combination of distillate, time and oak interplay beautifully here. The nature of buying blind can be a bit risky, but very often those risks pay off in very interesting ways. Nose: Butter madelines, mineraly Chenin Blanc, Williams Pear, Golden Kiwi & Golden Sultana, lemon zest, almonds. Some dough-y notes, more enriched pastry than bread. cinder toffee Palate: Starts very zesty, with flints and minerals. Buttered sourdough, zesty green apples, almond – Ricciarelli biscuits. Lemon juice, green bell pepper, sage butter Finish: Nice acidity with citrus oils and zest. Coconut macaroon, lemon tart and toasted almonds Non-chill filtered and natural colour. This spirit may haze at low temperatures and under dilution.