Glen Garioch
Address : Glen Garioch Distillery, Distillery Road, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, AB51 0ES
Telephone No : 01651 873450
Web Site : www.GlenGarioch.com
Visitors Centre : Yes
Glen Garioch is Scotland’s most Easterly distillery. It was established in 1797 by Thomas Simpson, who kept the distillery for 30 years.
Glen Garioch is situated in the historic Valley of the Garioch, traditionally the finest barley growing area in all of Scotland. According to an article in "The Aberdeen Journal", the first distillation at Glen Garioch could have happened as soon as 1785. However, other sources say that the distillery was not built until 1798. John Manson acquired it in 1837. The same John Manson who was the owner of the Strathmeldrum distillery, which has since disappeared. The distillery remained his property until he sold it in 1884 to J.G. Thomson & Co, whose manager William Sanderson was the creator of Vat69. In those days, the malt from Glen Garioch was part of VAT69. The distillery is currently owned by Morrison-Bowmore Distillers Ltd.
Here are a selection of whiskies producewd at the Glen Garioch Distillery:
Glen Garioch 12 Y/O 48%
Gains its distinctive Highland character from maturation in two wood groups: American Bourbon, and Spanish Sherry casks. Each stage of the marriage adds distinct characteristics to the final single malt. Bourbon to soften and Sherry to add depth of flavour – fresh heather, poached pears and just a hint of oak.
Nose: Heathery floral notes are balanced with the richness of poached pears and the sweetness of malted barley.
Palate: Crème brulee and sweet ripe banana at first then comes a light oakiness with pear fruitiness.
Glen Garioch 1990 48%
Bottled at cask strength, this batch of Glen Garioch sees the return of peat to distinct Highland malt. Quietly matured in a classic combination of bourbon & sherry wood since 1990, the result is honeycomb and chocolate truffles with a distant hint of a smouldering fire.
Nose: Sweet honeycomb, chocolate truffles, wood spice and green apples with a gentle earthy peatiness.
Palate: Treacle toffee and oak spice at first give way to a freshness similar to green apple peel with just a hint of a distant peat fire.
Glen Garioch 1978 48%
Glen Garioch has always been renowned for its ageing potential, producing several unbeatable aged expressions over the years. This 1978 Vintage is no exception. Lovers of the Glen Garioch know that it has been no stranger to peat over the years, with peating levels varying throughout its long lifetime, ceasing in 1995. This 1978 Vintage sees the reintroduction of peat to this Highland malt, smoked like a distant smoldering fire, a truly memorable dram.
Nose: The nose is filled by the fresh and fragrant aroma of pear drops, orange fruit loaf, dark chocolate and toasted oak.
Palate: Poached pears and sweet red apple fill the mouth before nuances of smoked oak begin to emerge. The aftertaste is of Seville orange zest with a pleasant wood spiciness.
Glen Garioch 1797 Founders Reserve 48%
Crafted by John & Alexander Manson since 1797, this selection of Non Chill-Filtered Glen Garioch illustrates the distinct house character- honey sweetness, hints of heather and just a touch of spice. The launch of the Founder's Reserve celebrates the distillery's long standing tradition of craftsmanship to produce the finest Highland single malts - taking the skills and experience cultured over the last 200 years to produce an outstanding whisky.
Nose: Sweet vanilla and butterscotch show the influence of North American Oak with fruitier green apple and grapefruit coming through at the rear.
Palate: At first the palate is sweet with hints of buttercream and vanilla. As this begins to ebb, the fruitiness of the green apple skin and citrus cleanliness leaves the palate refreshed.
A big thank you to the Glen Garioch Distilleries own web site, www.GlenGarioch.com for most of the images and information on this page. For more information and a chance to buy some of their Excellent Whisky click on the link above.
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This picture is from www.whisky-news.com and is of the old floor maltings.