Glen Ord once more


June 4, 2025

WF’s Little Duos,
today glen Ord once more

We love Ord, we have great memories of Ord, especially visiting the maltings (the current ones, the drums, not the Saladin boxes that were dismantled in 1968 – WF is not that old). Well, we’ll only have two today, we need to let the machine cool down a bit…

(2006, WF Archive)

Glen Ord 14 yo 2009/2023 (49.2%, James Eadie, for the Ensign Ewart, refill hogshead, cask #310777, 152 bottles)

The Ensign Ewart is a well-known little pub in Edinburgh, located at 521-523 Lawnmarket on the Royal Mile. One would expect them to have chosen this little Ord with care… Colour: white wine. Nose: as naked a malt whisky as one could hope for, beautifully composed of celery stalk, fennel, green apples, damp chalk, dill, pink grapefruit, and freshly harvested barley. Mouth: powerful, almost cutting, more herbaceous and spicy on the palate (green pepper), with a rich texture and plenty of small, semi-wild apples. Then come limoncello, sticks of rock, and honey pastilles, which gently round things off. Finish: long, a little waxier, with some lovely bitter tones. Comments: a fine little Highland beast. In any case, we love these Highland malts that are ‘not quite fully rounded yet’.
SGP:661 - 87 points.

Glen Ord 10 yo 2012/2023 (60%, Animal Spirits, ‘When Days Are Cold 1’, 3rd Anniversary, barrel, cask 200260, 232 bottles)

Animal Spirits? I simply cannot help but think of Animal, the drummer from The Muppet Show, particularly his legendary performance in ‘Fever’ with Rita Moreno, which makes me laugh out loud every single time. Yes, like the rest of the planet. But let’s get back to our sheep as we say in French—I mean, to this young Ord… Colour: chardonnay. Nose: chardonnay. I am not joking, this is a good young Chablis on the nose. Just the right amount of vanilla, soft oak, limestone, and buttercream, then a touch of yellow melon and barley sugar. With water: we’re veering towards an IPA with a hint of washing powder. Mouth (neat): a little paraffin, slightly soapy at first, but we know that part will settle. Otherwise, lemon zest and green apples. With water: oh yes, even if the slight soapiness remains (I was wrong once again), the rest is nicely fruity, youthful, rather oily, lemony, and peppery. Finish: long, with a faint tonic water note. Some roots and a bit of modelling clay. Comments: a very good Ord, just a little unusual on the palate.
SGP:561 - 82 points.

Check the index of all Glen Ord we've tasted so far