Today Glenkinchie OB vs IB ex-sherry


June 18, 2025

WF’s Little Duos, today Glenkinchie OB vs IB ex-sherry

We haven’t often had the chance to enjoy Glenkinchie, except occasionally as a ‘secret Lowland’ over the past two or three years.

Glenkinchie ‘Distillers Edition’ (43%, OB, +/-2022)

A rather recent non-vintage release, yet still finished in American oak casks ‘seasoned’ with amontillado. We do love a good amontillado, of course. Colour: gold. The amontillado has barely marked the colour here. Nose: it feels as though the wine is less dominant than in some of the vintage batches, as if the finishing has been shorter this time. It’s lovely, all on barley and withered apple, rather natural, also showing fresh brioche, then white chocolate with bits of fruit, a trendy little thing seen here and there. There’s muesli too, the whole showing a nice brightness. Mouth: much more expressive on the palate, with caramel, vanilla fudge, a faintly earthy and smoky aspect probably coming from the sherry, then those walnuts we were expecting. Honestly, it’s rather enjoyable. Finish: medium in length, a touch more bitter, with notes of brown ale and salted butter caramel. Comments: truly pleasant, well put together and well balanced, though it’s lost a bit of the ‘lightness’ found in classic Glenkinchie.
SGP:541 - 82 points.

Glenkinchie 16 yo 2008/2025 (51.9%, The Whisky Agency, sherry hogshead, 300 bottles)

Very intrigued by this bottle, and pleased they didn’t label it as a ‘Secret Lowland’. Colour: deep gold. Nose: the sherry and oak are doing much of the heavy lifting here, there are lovely varnishes, fresh fir wood and roasted nuts, quite a bit of nutmeg and ginger, and a surprising bourbon-like character we hadn’t anticipated. Touches of baked aubergine. With water: it folds back a little onto conifer wood but remains most enjoyable. Mouth (neat): ah indeed, I’m loving this, it’s powerful, full-bodied, not very ‘Glenkinchie’ truth be told but we’ll get used to it. Lovely caraway, cinnamon rolls, wormwood, juniper, honey, maple syrup, grey pepper. I really do like this a lot. With water: what’s more, it swims beautifully, only becoming a tad sweet, though I can’t quite place the source. Finish: long, still a little ‘bourbon’ for a sherry cask but it’s American oak after all, with some coconut notes. Still that lovely varnish in the aftertaste. Comments: surprising and, to my palate, excellently modern.
SGP:651 - 87 points.

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