Single Malt
Scotland
Sherry
A fabulously sherried single malt from Glengoyne, matured predominantly in first fill European oak sherry casks for 21 long years. Its time in the cask has bestowed upon it lovely rich fruity notes with an exceptionally long finish. This fantastic whisky was winner of a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018. Impressive stuff.
Punchy oak, potpourri, cranberries, raspberries, a little malt and figs on the nose.
Richly sherried. Everything is tangy and spiced - molasses, hot apple cider, Christmas pudding with flaming brandy and a touch of cracked black peppercorns.
Ends with Oloroso and sweet malt.
I've just finished a bottle of this and I have to say that it is very close to the 25 year old, it has the same intense depth and deep sherried flavour, deep red fruits and spice. The 25 year old is bigger, better balanced and a more expansive taste, the nose is fruitier but this is a very fine whisky. I love Glengoyne whiskies and the 25 is about the best I've ever experienced but this 21 year old is firmly up there on the top shelf, way above the 18 and 15 which are great but obviously much younger and less complex. For the price the 21 is a bit of a bargain, especially when you consider what other distilleries are charging for their nice but inferior malts. SM
Tried a few new scotches last night. First was the Tomatin 12, then Lismore 21, then this delightful dram. While for the price I enjoyed the Tomatin ($32), it was a bit on the sweet side with the sherry being masked by an abundance of butterscotch and pear until I returned to it later. The Lismore was a complete letdown for my first 21 year, lacking depth and complexity I so desired with more smokiness than I care for. After letting the Glengoyne breathe a bit my companion and I finally nosed it... for about 15 minutes straight. I had found what I craved, a dram that invited my nose into the glass for deep breath after deep breath. The barley notes come through very true, attributed to their abandonment of peat and replacing it with dry warm air instead. Dark fruit plays in the nose, changing from black cherry to plum to date, with a hazelnut or walnut (depending on the nosing) to back it up nicely. The sherry comes through with a perfect balance in my opinion, not too strong but lets you know it's there. After nosing quite some time, the crystal was tilted back for the first taste. Many of the same characteristics as the nose, the sherry touched my tongue lightly with a nice warmth but no burn, with the fruits coming in on the finish that carried quite some time. Let this one sit, it takes at least a minute for all the complexities of the finish to hit your palate with the dark fruits and slight nutty roundness. At this point it comes back up, giving a new warmth with a ever so subtle dash of cinnamon and the cherry returns a bit. This is the dreamy dram I've been searching for, and as Glengoynes motto states, it was "worth the wait". If you DON'T like heavy peaty islay malts, but prefer a masterfully crafted dram where each step is meticulously and slowly completed (longest distillation process of any scotch and they take 5-6 years prepping the casks), this dram should call for you. Refined, complex, and deep I shall be returning to this new friends again and again. Cheers :)
The Glengoyne 21y/o is by far the best Scotch whisky available today for the price. It is complex and tasty. There just aren't enough "O's" in SMOOTH to describe a dram of this treat. Knowing the lads that make this whisky treasure, all their love and talent comes through in giant terms. Who needs loads of smoke and peat? Give me true malt done well. Highland cognac it is.
A real sherry monster. One of the best whisky's I've ever tasted. Right up my street
True single malt lovers will agree that Glengoyne 21 will always stand as the special sipping single malt of this century!
