Three Glen Elgin finished in more difficult sherry


August 20, 2025

Three Glen Elgin finished in
more difficult sherry

Let’s remember that Glen Elgin was also White Horse, the absolute star among relatively common branded blends. But today, we’ll also be getting some palo cortado, malaga and amontillado. Let’s say our prayers — here we go…

Glen Elgin-Glenlivet 12 yo (46%, Cadenhead, Original Collection, 2025)

This new baby was sheltered in palo cortado since 2023, rather smart if you ask me. Colour: pale gold. Nose: mustard and pepper, this is quite an extreme example of dry sherry, with no apparent fruitiness. Damp wood, hay, a wee balsamic touch, perhaps a few small berries, rowan, service tree, that sort of thing… Otherwise it is dry and austere. Mouth: spicy spruce, damp cardboard, apple peelings, a drop of lighter fluid. Finish: same again, with the mustard returning to the party. Comments: as dry as a hanged man’s humour, this rather improbable youngster. In truth, it is quite un-Cadenhead, I would say.
SGP:361 - 72 points.

Glen Elgin 12 yo (52.7%, James Eadie, Distilleries of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Malaga wine finish, cask #373074, 257 bottles)

We remain in the south of Spain, though on the Mediterranean rather than the Atlantic. Colour: gold. Nose: far more balanced, thus with fruit, here small cider apples and jujubes, also a lovely bakery-yeast side and some multifloral pollen. With water: damp earth of various kinds and fresh mushrooms. Mouth (neat): rather powerful, on bitters and roots, so not that ‘sexy’ for now. Hints of tiger balm and bitter orange play upon your lips. With water: there we are, it loosens up a little, though in moderation, on tobacco and orange zest. Finish: in fact, it remains a tad austere, around roots, celery, also turnips and salsify cooked with honey… Comments: much, much better all the same.
SGP:461 - 80 points.

Glen Elgin 11 yo 2014/2025 (57.3%, Lady of the Glen, Amontillado Finish, cask #800982, 236 bottles)

Telling a palo cortado from an amontillado in a finishing is nothing short of wizardry, and we’ll freely admit we are quite unable to do so. Colour: full gold. Nose: earth, peppers and oranges in various guises. Will that do for you? With water: notes of Swiss cheese fondue, kirsch and white wine. I promise. Mouth (neat): the oranges save the world, at least here, yet it remains a touch… improbable. Think bitter orange liqueur with pepper and ginger. With water: ah, that’s better, though still a tad uncertain (Gruyère, pepper, kirsch and glue, really?) Finish: very long, very peppery, fairly bitter. Notes of glue and Seville orange. Comments: another highly acrobatic Glen Elgin, let us be frank, but really very, very decent.
SGP:461 - 80 points.

I think we shall survive.

Check the index of all Glen Elgin we've tasted