After laying silent for over two decades, the Glenglassaugh stills were fired back up in 2008, and in 2023, a brand new core range is ready! The distillery sits on the rugged north Aberdeenshire coast, nestled behind the beautiful surfer's haven, Sandend Bay. Master blender Rachel Barrie has fond childhood memories of time spent at Sandend and even learned to surf there, and now the bay is honoured in the form of this unpeated single malt. Matured in a combo of bourbon, sherry, and manzanilla casks, it's bursting with notes of tropical fruit and tablet, with delicate coastal salinity in the distance.
We're met with delightful notes of buttery fudge, vanilla ice cream, candied mango, and salted papaya.
Tablet, mango, and toasted vanilla trickle throughout, backed by boiled pineapple sweeties and creamy barley.
Grapefruit and juicy berries, more vanilla and butterscotch, and a distant coastal breeze.
I was disappointed with this new bottling. Down right a let down with the flavours. It lacks character and didn't like the fiery spiciness. For the same price, there's a lot of other choices out there.
In a word, sublime. Donated by a man to remain a friend forever.
