Glen Garioch use virgin North American white oak casks for the entirety of the maturation for their Virgin Oak release. Using brand new barrels for whisky is becoming quite a trend, and the big, bold flavours that come from this release surely show why.
Oat cereal with a sprinkle of brown sugar. Pine breeze and a vanilla hum.
A big, chocolate burst, with chewy toffees and sugar coated sweeties. This is followed by the oak that you knew was coming, but it's surprisingly subtle. Spices and cloves too. Complex and tasty.
Vanilla reappears to calm down the oak spices for a nice, long finish.
Two out of three reviewers on here so far haven't even drank it and one went so far as to give it 1/2 a star. I had this last night. Sweet with lots of flavors and a nice woody finish and it was well worth the purchase to try something different. Reminded me of an Ancnoc.
I havent tasted this whisky. It could be great. However it has no age statement and it is matured in new oak barrels and it is crazy expensive. Please give me one reason to buy this. I will give you 2 not to buy it. There are superb bourbons that cost a third of this bottle. There are superb single malts that cost half of this bottle. I hope the consumers put an end to this trend and start making demands. This is just stupid.
I have tried Founders Reserve and 12 yr by Glen Garioch. I found no burn with Founders Reserve but I did with the 12 yr old when I first tried it. After a few weeks after opening the bottle, the burn faded and I hardly noticed it. At first, I was unsure about the 12 yr old but now I like it a lot. I bought another bottle of both and have warmed up to Glen Garioch!
OK Just because 3 different expressions of Glen Garioch (Founders reserve, 12 yo and the Virgin oak)haven't done it for me then it does not make them a poor distillery. However I have experienced the 'burn' in all 3 expressions and have not tried anything by these that doesn't. All personal taste of course and to balance the debate Glen Garioch Virgin oak was the most popular at a recent Morrison-Bowmore tasting with nearly half the group preferring it.
