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Glen Garioch 15 years 1997

fresh fruity
€85Scotland, Highland, Single Malt

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Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Glen Garioch traces back to 1797, one of the oldest operating distilleries still running in Scotland. It sits in Oldmeldrum, a market town in the fertile Garioch valley. This corner of Aberdeenshire was long known as the Granary, and local barley shaped the spirit from the start. This 1997 vintage was drawn from a bourbon cask and bottled at full cask strength. The whisky carries orchard fruit, ripe apricot and banana, with honey and warm cinnamon underneath. A little black pepper and dark chocolate arrive on the finish. Pour it neat and let the fruit unfold slowly.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Glen Garioch

Glen Garioch is a Scotch whisky distillery located in the town of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was founded in 1797 and is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. The distillery produces a range of single malt whiskies, including their signature Glen Garioch 12 Year Old, which is a smooth and complex whisky with notes of honey, vanilla, and spice. Glen Garioch is one of the few distilleries in Scotland to still use traditional floor maltings, where the barley is soaked in water and then spread out on the floor to germinate. The malt is then dried using peat smoke, which gives Glen Garioch whiskies a distinctive smoky flavour profile. One interesting fact about Glen Garioch is that it was closed for a period of time in the 1990s due to a decline in demand for Scotch whisky. However, the distillery was reopened in 1997 and has since become known for producing high-quality single malt whiskies.

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31Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Glen Garioch 15 years 1997

Glen Garioch 15 years 1997 is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Highland region of Scotland. It comes from the Glen Garioch distillery in Oldmeldrum, a small market town in Aberdeenshire. The distillery was founded in 1797. That makes it one of the oldest operating whisky distilleries still running in the country. It sits in the fertile Garioch valley, an area long known as the Granary of Aberdeenshire for its fine barley. This particular bottling is a 1997 vintage aged for fifteen years. The whisky was matured in a bourbon cask, which lends bright and creamy character. It was bottled at cask strength, a hearty 56.7% ABV, with nothing held back. That extra power carries the flavours further across the palate. Cask strength whisky like this rewards patient sipping. Give it room in the glass and the aromas open up. On the nose you find orchard fruit and fresh apple, apricot and ripe banana. Honey runs underneath, joined by soft coconut and a touch of barley sugar. The bourbon cask brings a rounded sweetness that suits the fruit. There is a floral, hay-like freshness sitting behind it all. Take your time and the fruit keeps shifting. Each return to the glass shows a slightly different side of the spirit. The palate follows the nose with plenty of ripe fruit and honeyed depth. Warm cinnamon and gentle black pepper add spice through the middle. Dark chocolate and a little leather bring weight toward the close. The finish is long, with dried fruit and a whisper of black tea. It stays fruity and warm rather than sharp or hot. That balance is part of the Glen Garioch signature. Glen Garioch makes hearty Highland malts in small batches, bottled without chill filtration. The distillery has a long history rooted in the barley fields around Oldmeldrum. Glen Garioch 15 years 1997 shows what patient bourbon cask ageing can do at natural strength. Enjoy this Highland single malt whisky neat, on its own. Let it sit for a minute and the honey, apple and spice settle into place beautifully.