Tasting: Glen Garioch 1993 20y by Single Cask Collection

Dram data:
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Single Cask Collection
Distilled: 29.09.1993
Bottled: 04.02.2014
Age: 20 years
Limitation: 226 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead no. 808
Alcohol: 55,1%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose is a bit closed down at first, it needs some time to open up. Neat: A mix of delicate vanilla, peppermint, white pepper and lemon juice. Also hay, dry white wine, cake icing with a background sweetness of diluted honey and Demerara sugar. With water the balance shifts towards the sweeter elements. On the palate there’s a lot more (honey) sweetness paired with vanilla / custard and citrus notes but it remains a rather light distillate. With quite a bit of water added there’s more to discover. Honey melons, sweet apples, sweet white grapes, gooseberries, sweet-ish grapefruit, ginger spiciness, with well-integrated and subtle oaky notes in the background. The finish is gentle and mellow despite the high ABV, a nice, unobtrusive mixture of honey sweetness and slightly bitter green, herbal notes. Medium long with hints of oak and yeast appearing right at the very end.

Verdict:
A gentle, light Highland malt from a good (definitely refill) bourbon hoggie. Nice interplay between the herbal, sweet and light fruit notes. Give it a bit of time and a generous amount of water.

Score: 84/100
(Nose: 83 palate: 84 Finish: 84)

Thanks to Manny for the sample!