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R1,750.00
Glenkinchie Distillers Edition 2023 – Amontillado Seasoned American Oak Cask
Glenkinchie is one of the few remaining lowland Scotch distilleries. Although with the rise in Scotch popularity more lowland distilleries are in development or reopening. There is only the 12-year-old expression of this Scotch, which is something I find very interesting. The distillery has 1 wash and 1 spirit still producing around 2.7 million liters of liquid a year. Which makes it the lowest producing distillery of this series. The Lowland style is strongly associated with grain and blended style of Scotch whisky. Characteristics of the region are malty with soft body without the smoky peat flavor.
Once again, this expression is effectively the same as 2020 and 2021. I am a little disappointed Diageo didn’t try a different finishing cask for this expression. I am not a distiller nor a master blender. At best I’m an armchair enthusiast, but I am a little disappointed this is essentially the same whisky with a different package. With that we turn to the glass.
Amontillado is a very dry Sherry that undergoes a dual maturation process. It first matures under a veil of flor (yeast) like Fino and Manzanilla Sherry, followed by a period of oxidation after the flor disappears. The result is a very complex dry wine that features notes of golden raisin and aromatic herbs, dried tobacco leaves, and salted nuts.
The Glenkinchie features a hint of golden raisin on the nose, some herbal notes of dried straw, a touch of anise/licorice, and well-seasoned oak wood.
On the palate, it has a touch of dried fruit sweetness, a bit of marzipan, well-integrated herbal notes, licorice, and a hint of mint.
The finish is long and warm, with lingering raisin sweetness, a mild pepperiness, and some herbal notes that end on a slightly bitter note.
Among Scotch whisky enthusiasts, the Glenkinchie Distiler’s Edition is widely considered a textbook case of the art of cask finishing. Mike Nicolson, Master Distiller and former Director of Diageo’s Distillery School, described the cask finish as “subtle, appropriate and entirely complementary.”
Glenkinchie Distillers Edition 2023 – Amontillado Seasoned American Oak Cask
Region: Lowland
Appearance: light summer straw
Nose: This immediately reminded me of a white wine like a Chardonnay. The sweetness and buttery notes were very forthcoming with just ghost of tart grape. Pushing past the wine you find green apples, honey and white sugar, and just the faintest reminder of charred oak at the end.
Palate: Oak char combined with green grapes. Chardonnay and green grapes wrapped in some pepper that is tangy and tart. There is an underlying sense of white sugar sweetness, not synthetic but nearly. The taste gives way to a lingering charcoal feel that has whisps of the lingering white wine.
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