A wee trio of Glengoyne


October 12, 2026

A wee trio of Glengoyne

We do like Glengoyne, the Highlander of the Lowlands, unless it’s the other way round… But first, an apéritif…

Glengoyne 10 yo (40%, OB, +/-2005)

Perhaps not an outright star at the time, but it’s always nice to try, or revisit, these emblematic malts from… ahem, twenty years ago. Colour: gold. Nose: I reckon it has benefited from its twenty years in bottle, having become pleasantly rounded, with orange cake, acacia honey, peaches and cherries… But beware, these lovely noses don’t necessarily promise equally lovely palates with entry-level malts. Let’s see… Mouth: yes indeed, it’s nicely malty and caramelly, with nougat and café latte. Finish: more of the same, with the orange cake returning, drizzled with caramel. Comments: very decent, classic, well made. I really do think the ‘ageing’ in bottle has done it some good, even if the caramel remains a little overdone for my taste.
SGP:541 - 80 points.

Let’s move on to the very latest baby…

Glengoyne 17 yo ‘Scottish Oak’ (51.6%, OB, 2026)

This was finished in ‘sustainably sourced’ (compulsory wording these days, isn’t it) Scottish oak. Glengoyne had already done this in the past, for instance with a 15-year-old back in 2007, and we liked it very much (WF 87), however odd that may sound. And so… Colour: full gold. Nose: listen, I’m sorry, but the Scottish oak seems to lend the whisky a rather… Japanese character. Green spices, fir, bean curd, even green oranges, or at least their interpretation by the perfumers at Hermès. Very nice. With water: the pine resin becomes even more pronounced. Lovely, we like this. Mouth (neat): much the same impression, green oranges, lemongrass, bergamot, liquorice, it’s really rather lovely. With water: still just as good, fresh, lemony and sappy. Finish: more of the same. Easy on the water, as with all whiskies where the oak makes its presence felt. Comments: I’ll dare to say it, this rather reminds me of those ‘mizunara-inside’ whiskies. Will they ever forgive me for saying that?
SGP:461 - 87 points.

Right, let’s try an indie, there aren’t that many about these days… Independent Glengoynes, I mean.

Glengoyne-11-yo-2014-2026-55-Signatory-Vintage-Cask-Strength-Collection-1st-fill-bourbon-barrel-cask-700443-234-bottles

Glengoyne 11 yo 2014/2026 (55%, Signatory Vintage, Cask Strength Collection, 1st fill bourbon barrel, cask #700443, 234 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: lemon and orange drops, jellybeans, liquorice allsorts, marshmallows. Must I repeat myself? With water: it does not budge an inch. Perhaps a few rather ripe gooseberries. Mouth (neat): we’re back to lemon drops, multiplied by ten, then apple juice and kiwi jam. This is so utterly ‘unpeated’ that even Auchentoshan seems smoky by comparison. With water: a fruitiness we might call positively cheeky, or a family-sized bag of British fruit sweets straight from Heathrow or Gatwick duty-free (price × 1.5). Finish: more of the same, only even fruitier. Comments: I reckon this outrageously fruity baby could win over even the most implacable opponent of malt whisky. Should any such person exist, of course…
SGP:740 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Glengoyne we've tasted