A Glenlossie retrospective, part 2


April 4, 2024

A Glenlossie retrospective, part 2

Glenlossie 29 yo 1992/2021 (49.5%, Maltbarn, bourbon cask, 143 bottles)

The oldest we'll have tasted so far in this session. Let's see if the years have mowed the lawn (I know what I mean). Colour: pale gold. Nose: we're truly on very ripe apples here, white peaches, damp chalk, elderflower lemonade, sweet woodruff... It's very pretty, delicate, the years seem to have done their job well. Mouth: lime and tart pear join the mix. Elderflower and sweet woodruff syrups remain very present, as does the cut grass. A very nice herbal tension, in the style of a very sharp Sancerre. Finish: long, taut, with a return of peach. Sweet woodruff becomes increasingly pronounced, grapefruit appears in the aftertaste. Comments: a truly refined old malt, in a style that could be described as gloriously non-commercial.
SGP:651 - 88 points.

Glenlossie 12 yo 2009/2021 (56.7%, The Whisky Blues, hogshead, cask #1227, 276 bottles)

Colour: amber. Nose: one would say it was a sherry hogshead, as there is a good deal of walnut wine, mild curry, marmalade, old white wine, pear liqueur, and salted butter caramel... However, it remains very harmonious at this stage. With water: tobacco and old leather come to the forefront. Mouth (neat): salty biscuits, aged comté cheese, a flood of green walnuts, bitter orange, grey pepper... It's very much 'Jerez' or 'Arbois'. With water: very nice bitters. Artichoke liqueur and grilled aubergines, plus the ever-present green walnuts. Finish: very long, very dry, without the slightest hint of sweetness. Comments: best enjoyed with Iberian ham, I'd say, with plenty of bellotas.
SGP:361 - 88 points.

Let's taste a very old one, if you please…

Glenlossie 42 yo 1975/2017 (44.3%, Cadenhead, Single Cask, hogshead, 138 bottles)

Angus has already tasted this one and loved it (WF 91). So, theory would suggest there's little risk here... Colour: gold. Nose: a wealth of sweet honeys and yellow flowers. Dandelions, wallflowers, freesias... Then grand white Burgundy (go on, Meursault) and puffs of fresh mint and acacia flowers. It's quite sublime, it must be said, only time can produce this. Mouth: those little flower liqueurs, beeswax, hints of aged pine wood and pipe tobacco, touches of ripe papaya, distinguished pepper... It's truly beautiful, it's not an old whisky that is excellent just because it has become complex, it's even a bit simple, gloriously simple. Finish: of medium length, leaning towards chamomile tea. This elegant old wood also appears in the aftertaste, with a hint of liquorice wood and lemon as well. Comments: as usual, Angus was right. Yes, that's modest flattery.
SGP:551 - 91 points.

Glenlossie 13 yo 2008/2022 (48.1%, Signatory Vintage, Small Batch Edition #12, Kirsch Import, sherry butt finish)

Colour: gold. Nose: fudge, butterscotch, macchiato, dried pears and bananas, peanut butter, pancake sauce and a little damson eau-de-vie. Right, slivovitz, zwetschke, quetsche etc. Mouth: a very pretty sherry, slightly earthy and even smoky, with rooty notes, green walnut of course, cigars, maple syrup, a few drops of toasted sesame oil, and then this butterscotch and those dried pears again. A typically very good sherry finish by Signatory. Finish: quite long, tending more towards marmalade. Pepper and a light touch of ginger, nothing serious. Comments: these small batches always do the trick.
SGP:551 - 87 points.

Glenlossie 10 yo 2010/2020 (56.2%, Lady of the Glen, Profiler barrique finish, cask #8647, 305 bottles)

I'm sorry, I must confess I have absolutely no idea what a 'profiler barrique' is. Does it have anything to do with the role of a profiler in police series on Netflix? Colour: dark gold. Nose: there's apricot, praline, liquid caramel, vanilla, cappuccino, sweet wine, black nougat, a bit of peach cream... With water: leaves and leather, perhaps not its best side. Mouth (neat): rich but not too thick, with quite a bit of spice on top of cooked fruits. A bit of banana liqueur with curry and pepper. With water: green spices, fruit-flavoured herbal teas, ginger and turmeric... Okay. Finish: long and spicy. Turmeric dominates. Comments: not too much my favourite, but still at a very good level. So, what is a 'profiler barrique', any ideas?
SGP:461 - 80 points.

Glenlossie 20 yo 1997/2018 (51.6%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask #12365, 127 bottles)

93.5 in a certain bible, apparently. Colour: white wine. Nose: a hint of butter sauce, croissants, focaccia, beurre blanc sauce, ale... With water: damp earth, slate, leaves... Mouth (neat): varnish and vanilla, followed by white wine and currant liqueur. The herbal side of Glenlossie is also very much present (leaves, stems, green tea, green pepper)... With water: a little sweeter and rounder but still somewhat austere. Finish: medium length. Barley sugar and herbs, candied sugar. Comments: very pleasant, but not sure we're in the presence of a Canaletto. It's sad, we should have been able to ask our dear Diego.
SGP:551 - 80 points.

Glenlossie 10 yo 2010/2021 (56.7%, The Single Malts of Scotland, hogshead, cask #8769, 155 bottles)

Colour: almost white. Nose: barley, butter and glue. It's very basic, very simple, and I like that. With water: by Sainte Frédégonde, it's even simpler! Freshly cut grass and Jelly Babies. Palate (neat): we're still close to new make here. Varnish, green apple juice, gooseberries, lemon zest, tutti frutti spirit... With water: barley water as they sometimes call it. It's very minimalistic, but I have a soft spot for these little malts that don't boast too much. At least they're unlikely to end up in ridiculous crystal decanters one day. Finish: quite long, fresh, fruity and herbaceous. It brings apple to mind... Comments: honestly, it's very nice.
SGP:551 - 83 points.

Glenlossie 12 yo 2008/2021 (51.1%, Chapter 7, Monologue, bourbon hogshead, cask #9603, 277 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: this time it starts with rhubarb and greengage plums, barley syrup, green apple, and perhaps some notes of fresh sugar cane juice. That's very nice. Essentially, it's still the apple doing the work. With water: it's confirmed, apple, bread dough, and cut grass. Palate (neat): a tiny bit of coconut, fresh brioche, nougat, chamomile, candied citron... All this works really well together. With water: a very distinct and pleasant syrupy aspect. It reminds one of pistachio syrup, one of the favourites at WF Towers. Finish: long, fresh, fruity, perfectly constructed. Well, I know, it's just a very good young cask. Comments: the purity of some perfect barley spirit from a well-bred cask.
SGP:551 - 86 points.

Alright, we'll take a short break, and then we shall have another long series of Glenlossie.

Check the index of all Glenlossie we've tasted so far