Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Fruity on the nose with ripe pears and green apples, accompanied by creamy vanilla and toffee. A hint of oak in the background combined with a noticeable alcoholic bite which isn't pungent.
Palate: Very strong on the palate with warming spices, white pepper and a touch of aniseed. This is somewhat softened by a creamy vanilla sweetness, fruity pears and some caramel.
Finish: The finish shows medium length with a sticky light fruit, vanilla, caramel and warming oak spice.
With water: After adding a splash of water, the alcoholic bite is tamed, while the fruity aromas of pear and apple, together with vanilla, get the upper hand. Significantly tamed also on the palate with creamy vanilla and fruit aromas, accompanied by distinctly dry oak. The finish is of medium length with vanilla, toffee and dry oak spice.
Comments: A bold, intense, even stormy Glengoyne that can tolerate water very well. Behind the alcoholic bite, creamy vanilla and sweet fruit aromas flash up, which form a nice symbiosis with spicy oak. Definitely a dram that needs full attention and water.

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Fruity on the nose with red apples and pears, followed by sweet honey and vanilla. Spiciness arrives with cinnamon, mixed with chocolatey notes and a touch of oak in the back.
Palate: Nicely sweet and fruity on the palate with creamy vanilla, apples, pears and apricots. Then a warming spiciness arrives with cinnamon, white pepper and oak before creamy honey and again vanilla take over, leading to a smooth finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long, slightly warm and sweet with malted barley, cinnamon and apple peel.
With water: There's more spicy notes coming through when a few drops of water are added while the delicate fruitiness remains stable. Creamy and sweet on the palate with vanilla and barley sugar, followed by a clear spicy note of pepper, nutmeg and oak. Slightly drier with oaky tannins. The finish shows medium length with a warming spicy core of nutmeg, cinnamon and oak.
Comments: A delicate 10 year old single malt bottled from a single refill hogshead from the Glengoyne distillery with a sweet and fruity core, nicely wrapped in warming spices. A perfect independent presentation of the style of this Highland distillery - enticing and good value for money.

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: Fruity and sweet on the nose with ripe yellow pears and juicy sultanas, followed by sherry, creamy toffee and vanilla custard. Then a delicate spiciness arrives with cinnamon and subtle oak, accompanied with dark chocolate in the back.
Palate: Bold and thick on the palate with sweet notes of oranges, vanilla and toffee. Oaky spice is coming through along with cinnamon, ginger and a whiff of white pepper, followed by dark chocolate. The sherry casks add some nice nutty flavours, too.
Finish: Good length. Creamy, sweet with dried fruits and sticky toffee, followed by oak spice and fine nutty flavours on the tail.
With water: Fruity and fresh on the nose with a few drops of water, with additional oak spice. Quite spicy on the palate with pepper, prickling oak, cinnamon and ginger, complemented with dried fruits, vanilla and creamy toffee. The finish shows good length with dark chocolate, hazelnuts and dried fruits.
Comments: A fruity, creamy and nicely spicy single malt from Glengoyne. Although it was matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, the distillery character of Glengoyne is still very well present. The beautiful pear aromas unite with the sweet vanilla custard and the spiciness from the European oak to form a harmonious and balanced composition, which is very well illustrated by the 48% abv and the lack of chill-filtration.

I thank BORCO for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: Malty sweetness on the nose, together with some biscuit, vanilla and brown bread. Then slightly fruity with plums, accompanied by some spicy notes of ginger and pepper, followed by a touch of nougat in the back.
Palate: Nicely sweet on the palate with biscuits, malted barley and creamy vanilla. A touch of fruitiness is shining through with red apples, followed by spicy notes of black pepper and ginger.
Finish: The finish is medium long, slightly warm and sweet with honey and malted barley. Becomes drier on the tail with subtle oak and cinnamon.
With water: There's more vanilla coming through when a few drops of water are added. Still sweet and less spicy. Still sweet on the palate, too, but the spiciness soon takes over with black pepper, ginger and anise. Creamy notes of vanilla linger towards the finish. The finish is a bit shorter with slightly warming notes of oak spice, anise, sweet barley notes and subtle creamy vanilla.
Comments: A nice, malty-sweet and at the same time spicy all day dram. Not overly complex, but clean, straightforward and finely structured. Despite the "only" 43% abv it is very present on the palate. Delicious and good value for money.

I thank Douglas Laing for the photograph!

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: The nose immediately starts off with a load of sherry. That kind of dark old style sherry with waves of raisins, dark fruits and rum-soaked black cherries. Rich and intense. This is followed by Demerara sugar, marzipan and a touch of furniture polish. No signs of sulfur or other misnotes at all. A superb aroma profile that I could smell for hours!
Palate: Sweet and vibrant with sherry, dried fruits, dark chocolate-coated raisins and Demerara sugar. This is accompanied by a warming and spicy mix of nutmeg, cinnamon and subtle oak. Rich and mouth-filling. Creamy, sticky fruit jam emerges with dry notes of cocoa towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long with sticky fruit jam - plums in particular. Lingering sweet with walnuts and subtle oak spice. Gets slightly drier in the end with cocoa and espresso.
With water: Vibrant and lively on the nose with a few drops of water. There's more spice coming through with oak, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Besides sherry and dark fruits, dry notes of cocoa and espresso emerge. A little less sweet and fruity on the palate while marzipan, cocoa and espresso notes are significantly enhanced. Fairly dry with a second sip. The finish is still long but very dry with oak, walnuts, espresso and almost 100% dark chocolate.
Comments: A really excellent single malt. Round, balanced, rich in flavours and very complex with an incredible depth. Immaculate in every respect. A remarkable whisky that is even more refined and elegant than the 25-year-old. An incomparable taste experience. Whether this justifies the high price tag, however, everyone must decide for itself.

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Bright amber.

Nose: Rich notes of sherry and brown sugar on the nose, followed by dark toffee, caramel and dried fruit. Over time, fruity notes of ripe yellow apple emerge, accompanied by apricot and mild citrus fruit.
Palate: The palate is immediately sweet with caramelised sugar, honey and a creamy mix of apricots, ripe apples, figs and sultanas. Then a pleasant warmth and spiciness develops with white pepper, nutmeg, ginger and a hint of oak. Moderate at first, but the ginger spiciness increases significantly with the second sip. Overall very rich and full-bodied.
Finish: The finish is medium long, creamy sweet and warm with spicy notes of pepper, ginger and dry oak. Apricot and walnut alternate towards the end.
With water: On the nose, a few drops of water release a lot of vanilla, paired with light fruity notes - above all apricot - and a whiff of oak. The sherry is pushed a little into the background. Still sweet on the palate with lots of fruit and some vanilla. The warming spices are noticeably tamed. The finish is significantly shorter, also less warming with creamy apricot jam and a hint of coffee notes.
Comments: This single malt focuses on a wonderful fruity sweetness, paired with notes of vanilla and caramel. This rich and intense aroma competes with a warming spiciness from the European oak casks, which together result in a well-balanced and harmonious dram. The spiciness can be tamed with a few drops of water, but without losing this sweet and intoxicating fruitiness. Of the three tested Glengoyne GTR bottlings, the best for me by far.

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.

Nose: Warm spices of cinnamon and cloves, followed by vanilla, maple syrup and fresh baked biscuits, Fruity tones of banana arrive turning into tangerine, sultanas and lemon notes with time.
Palate: Sweet with creamy vanilla and toffee accompanied by fruity notes of ripe yellow apples. This is immediately followed by a warming spicy mix of white pepper, cloves and subtle oak. A whiff of sherry with tender walnuts linger with hints of floral notes towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is slightly warm showing medium length. Spicy with cloves and dry oak, followed by a lemon hint on the tail.
With water: Fresher on the nose with a few drops of water. There's more vanilla and toffee coming through while the fruitiness is tamed. Spicy flavours, such as oak, pepper and cloves are significantly enhanced. Same picture on the palate: far more oak spice, black pepper, cinnamon and cloves with subtle vanilla and apples in the back. Richer and more mouth-filling. The finish is medium long and dry with oak spice and cloves, followed by a touch of lemon on the tail.
Comments: Another delicious whisky from Glengoyne's current Global Travel Retail series. This time it was matured in European oak sherry casks, which is reflected in the clearly spicier and fruity aromas - in comparison to Cuartillo. The dram is pretty sweet, but not as rich and full-bodied as I would have expected due to maturation. For me, the Cuartillo surprisingly wins this "duel".

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Fresh and clean with a sweet load of fruits - green apples, lemon, apricots and passion fruit. Notes of vanilla and toffee emerge, followed by a slightly spicy touch of white pepper, cinnamon and oak. The delicate fruitiness improves with air.
Palate: Sweet with a creamy almost sticky fruitiness of apples, apricots and peaches. Then a warming spiciness arrives along with white pepper, a whiff of cinnamon and oak. Elegant and pleasantly mouth-filling.
Finish: The finish is medium long and slightly warm with sticky apricot jam, followed by subtle notes of oak and nutmeg on the tail.
With water: Fresher on the nose when a few drops of water are added. The delicate fruitiness and vanilla notes, however, are tamed significantly. The same on the palate: less sweet and fruity with an increased load of spices and oak. The finish is short with subtle apricots and a hint of oak spice.
Comments: A delicate and very pleasant whisky. The fruitiness and sweetness is in the foreground with a good balance of spice and freshness. A well combined dram with harmony on nose as on palate. Even water doesn't kill it, but honestly, it's not necessary at all. Cuartillo offers a good entry into the Spirit of Oak Collection of Glengoyne.

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Greenish gold.
Nose: Fresh and fruity on the nose with apples and juicy, ripe pears. This is followed by lingering vanilla and a whiff of oak in the background.
Palate: Sweet, creamy and fruity on the palate at first, but then a warming spiciness of white pepper and caramelised ginger emerges. Once this warmth fades creamy notes of vanilla and malted barley arrive, lingering with sticky pear fruit towards the finish.
Finish: A long, warm and creamy finish. The fruits are getting darker, mixed with subtle cocoa, slightly bitter orange peel and a hint of dry oak on the tail.
With water: Quite fresh and fruity on the nose when a few drops of water are added. There's more oak coming through, mixed with a touch of bitter orange peel. Very sweet and creamy on the palate, even velvety. Sticky fruit jam mixed with a slightly warming spiciness of white pepper, along with malted barley and cereal notes. The finish is a bit shorter, stays creamy with sticky apricot jam and a whiff of cocoa on the tail.
Comments: The slightly greenish colour of this single cask bottling must not cause any uncertainty. Behind it there's a delicious, sweet-fruity single malt with an intensly warming, spicy note and a creamy, long finish. This shows again that Glengoyne does not always have to be bottled from sherry casks.

I thank Douglas Laing for the photograph!

Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fruity and sweet on the nose with apricots, bananas and a whiff of lemon in the back. This is followed by lingering vanilla and a touch of oak. Needs a bit time to open up.
Palate: Creamy and sweet on the palate with a delicate mix of vanilla, apricots and coconut. Becomes sweeter and more creamy along with brambles, slightly warming oak and white pepper. Very nice indeed.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Creamy and slightly warm with vanilla, sticky fruit and a touch of dry oak on the tail.
With water: Quite fruity on the nose when a few drops of water are added. Creamy vanilla and ripe yellow fruit. Surprisingly spicy on the palate with prickling oak and black pepper while the delicate vanilla sweetness remains stable. The finish shows medium length with prickling oak, sticky fruit and a whiff of lemon on the tail.
Comments: Another tasty, older Glengoyne from a Bourbon cask. Lots of yellow fruit aromas, paired with creamy Bourbon vanilla notes and pleasantly restrained oak spices. Nicely complex, delicate and well-balanced. A pleasant companion at the end of a beautiful day.

Colour: Bright gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with creamy vanilla, toffee and subtle honey. This is accompanied by a fruity mix of apricots, peaches and yellow pears. Smooth and fresh with ginger spice and a whiff of oak in the back. The alcohol is well integrated.
Palate: Sweet at first on the palate with vanilla, caramel and fruits - mainly apricots and peaches. Then intensly warming with a delicate mix of anise, caramelised ginger, black pepper and a touch of oak spice. Rich and spicy while the warming spiciness increases with a second sip.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Creamy and fruity with gooseberry and hints of lemon. Then warming oak spice is showing up, becoming slightly dry on the tail.
With water: Fresher on the nose when a splash of water is added. Creamy vanilla and fresh lemon, followed by subtle oak spice in the back. Fairly spicy start on the palate before sweet vanilla and juicy apricots arrive. The warming spiciness is noticeably tamed. The finish shows medium length with creamy vanilla and a spicy, slightly dry finish.
Comments: This is a completely different Glengoyne than you are normally used to from the distillery. Not a sherry bomb, but a fruity, creamy-vanilla Bourbon hogshead bottling. Despite its high alcohol content, this malt has a soft texture. Yellow fruit notes are well balanced with rich, warming spices. This dram needs enough time in the glass to reach its full potential. Both with or without a few drops of water very enjoyable.

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: First impression: this is intense, mature and nicely complex. Sherry at first with a delicate mix of dried fruits - prunes, raisins, figs and plums. Massive load of dark cherry marmelade with luscious oranges and a wee touch of cinnamon, cloves and herbs. There's a meaty component in the back as well, nicely packed in a mix of dark chocolate, hints of tobacco leaves and a whiff of oak. Rich and surprisingly fresh for its old age. A gorgeous nose!
Palate: Very intense, thick and chewy on the palate. Not as sweet as the nose suggests but fruity with a sticky load of plums, dark cherries, figs, Seville oranges and dates. Deep, warming and nicely spicy with cloves, nutmeg, pepper, subtle oak and little cinnamon. With a second sip, this beauty becomes sweeter and spicier with Demerara sugar and black pepper at the same time. Mouth-coating - firm and fruity structure with winterly spices to balance.
Finish: The finish is very long, warm and complex. Treacle with a whiff of Demerara sugar, cinnamon and slightly bitter orange peel followed by drying notes of oak, tobacco leaves and walnuts. This multi-layered mix of aromas is staying for ages causing a wonderful mouth-feel.
With water: Quite fresh on the nose with a few drops of water. Lots of dark fruits, sherry and a pleasant mix of cinnamon and herbal notes. Fruity, creamy and sweet on the palate while the spiciness is a bit tamed with water. Less warming, too. The finish is long, sweet with Demerara sugar but very dry with oak, nutmeg and cloves, before sweet notes linger on the tail.
Comments: Wow - what a great whisky! Rich, full-bodied and yet elegant with a lot of depth. It is not the intense sherry flavours that dominate here, but the lush and sticky aromas of dark fruit - above all black cherries. These are complemented by a pleasant warmth of winter spices and subtle oak. In addition, this elegant oldie is surprisingly fresh with a herbal-meaty note. Adding water is not necessary here. A perfect dram for the pre-Christmas season. Best savoured in a leather armchair in front of an open fireplace. Sit, sip, relax and enjoy!

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Copper.
Nose: The nose starts off with delicate tropical fruits - mango, guava, pineapple and banana. Beautifully fragrant with creamy vanilla, oak and barley. With time hints of pink grapefruit and slightly bitter wood spices in the back.
Palate: Succulent, sweet and creamy with tropical fruit - banana, melon, apricot, pineapple and hints of pears. Beautifully deep and complex with creamy vanilla, barley and honey, followed by subtle spiced oak towards the finish.
Finish: Medium long, juicy and creamy with vanilla, honey and crisp barley. Sligthly warming oak spice with the tropical fruitiness showing up again on the tail. A classic Highland finish.
With water: Deliciously sweet and fruity on the nose with a splash of water. There's more vanilla coming through, followed by icing sugar and hints of oak spice. On the palate, however, the beautiful tropical fruitiness is significantly tamed while more bitter notes of pink grapefruit emerge. The finish shows medium length, with a touch of vanilla and fruity sweetness. The pleasant warming spiciness is almost gone.
Comments: A lovely, pleasant and complex whisky. Wonderful sweet with vanilla, delicate tropical fruit and warming oak spice. A very well aged malt with great depth and maturity. Less sweet with a bitter grip when water is added.

I thank Björn Lahmann from Whiskyplaza for the sample!

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with delicate sweet notes of dates, raisins, caramel and cherries. Lovely fruity and perfumy. Dark chocolate emerges, lingering with a touch of leather, tobacco leaves and black tea in the back.
Palate: Intensively sweet at first with Demerara sugar and toffee, followed by lovely fruity flavours of cherries, figs and raisins. Becomes significantly dry soon, mainly due to the (Oloroso?) sherry, complemented by a pleasant spiciness of oak, cinnamon and subtle black pepper. Warming with a lingering nuttiness, lovely mixed with dry notes of dark chocolate and cloves towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long with subtle sweet plum jam and raisins. Becomes very dry indeed with a lovely mixture of oak, walnuts, dark chocolate and sherry. Hints of leather and tobacco leaves nicely linger on the tail.
With water: Deliciously sweet and fruity on the nose with a splash of water. There's more sweet sherry coming through as well. Significantly sweet on the palate. While water significantly tames the dryness, there's is still a lovely and warming spiciness remaining on the tongue. Fruity and even juicy with delicious plum jam. The finish is long, lingering sweet and lovely creamy with caramel, baked apples, walnuts and lots of sweet sherry. Gorgeous!
Comments: A lovely, complex, sophisticated malt. Rich and intense, well-structured. Very dry on the palate but opens nicely with a few drops of water releasing its lovely sweet, fruity and charming character. Glengoyne and sherry cask maturation - you can't go wrong with that.

Colour: Gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with delicate notes of prunes, toffee and vanilla. With time, hints of candied lemon emerge, nicely intermingling with lovely spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and a whiff of ginger.
Palate: Oh yes - this is lovely sweet and fruity with prunes, accompanied by slightly bitter orange peel. Oily on the palate with pleasantly warming spices - cinnamon and ginger in particular. Creamy notes of caramel gorgeously linger with slightly dry nutty flavours towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, sweet and slightly warming. Gets a bit drier in the end with delicate walnuts, oak, caramelised ginger and nutmeg.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose with a few drops of water. Still sweet and fruity on the palate with more creamy toffee flavours, nicely mixed with oak, ginger, cinnamon and a bitter touch of orange peel. The finish is long, slightly warming with significantly more walnut flavours. Gets drier on the tail with oak, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Comments: A very subtle and multifaceted malt. Complex, rich with a spicy oak finish. Using Palo Cortado casks to finish whisky is rare. In fact Glengoyne is one of the only distilleries that work with Palo Cortado casks on a regular basis. However, I detected not much of the Palo Cortado in this whisky. Obviously, it did not have enough time to impart its character.

Colour: Rich amber.
Nose: The nose starts off with delicate notes of sherry and fruits, such as figs, dates and a whiff of raisins. Lingering nutty flavours emerge, accompanied by sweet notes of brown sugar, wine gums and subtle marzipan in the back.
Palate: Wow - this is intensively bold and rich with a wonderful sweet fruitiness of dates, figs, and raisins. This is immediately followed by a massive load of warming spices - chilli, oak and cinnamon. Creamy notes of brown sugar arrive, deliciously mixed with honey, backed red apples, roasted almonds and a dry touch of espresso. Very impressive and long-lasting.
Finish: The finish is long, pleasantly warm and sweet with sticky honey, dried orange notes and a beautiful nuttiness on the tail.
With water: Still sweet and fruity on the nose with a splash of water. Creamy sherry, nicely mixed with dark fruits, cinnamon and oak spice, and lingering marzipan. Nicely sweet on the palate. Creamy sherry flavours, dates, figs, muscovado sugar and slightly tamed spices. The finish is long, sweet, and creamy with nutty flavours and slightly drying notes of dark chocolate.
Comments: A very sophisticated malt. The distillery style of Glengoyne is in perfect harmony with the delicate added flavours of dark fruit and spiciness from the PX cask. Quite a complex character with great depth and apparent maturity. The palate is well-structured and not too woodframed at all. Elegant and charming, especially with a few drops of water. This is the kind of whisky style I like most from Glengoyne.

Colour: Reddish gold.
Nose: A delicate fruity nose with plums, grapes, figs and apricots. Rich wine flavours nicely intermingle with treacle toffee, vanilla and butterscotch. Sweet barley sugar lingers with a whiff of floral notes in the back. Very appealing!
Palate: Sweet and fruity start on the palate with grapes, prunes and cherries, complemented by an intensively warming spiciness of pepper, oak, and cinnamon. Slightly bitter notes of liquorice and grape skins towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm, and spicy. Sweet notes of apple pie with cinnamon slightly fade with a subtle dry end.
With water: A few drops of water slightly tame both the fruitiness and the sweetness of this dram bringing more vanilla to the fore. The delicate fruity sweetness is still present on the palate while the warming spiciness is tamed significantly. The finish is long, subtle warm with a touch of bitter grape skins on the tail.
Comments: This is a delicate and very savoury dram. The second maturation in a red wine cask works pretty well here and delivers some delicate flavours of red fruit to the aroma the bourbon cask first added to the spirit. Well balanced and nicely complex. I prefer the rich combination of fruit and sweetness with the massive load of delicate spiciness which, if this is not comfort to you, can be tamed by adding water. A well chosen cask by the folks from Cadenhead!

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with plenty of sherry flavours, complemented by a touch of metallike notes, maybe owing to the juvenile part of this whisky. Rummy with treacle, dark cherries, raisins and a whiff of sulphur. A touch of lingering oak emerges along with pleasant dark chocolate in the back. A rich nose!
Palate: Rather sweet and soft start on the palate with delicate sherry flavour, treacle and dark fruit. This is immediately followed by massive spice of oak, white pepper and liquorice. Very warm indeed, even hot. After the heat's fading away, a pleasant and nice sweetness remains with dark honey, red baked apples and nougat. Very powerful and pleasantly satisfying.
Finish: Long and warm finish. Sweet with sticky honey on the tongue, lingering nutty notes and a dry and slightly peppery end.
With water: There is more sherry aroma and delicate fruit on the nose with significant more apples coming through. Sweet with fruit, treacle and liquorice on the palate, along with plenty of warm spice. Long and creamy finish, with hot spice on the tail. Extremely warming.
Comments: This is a pleasant afternoon tea Scotts style! Very well balanced with a nice complexity. A lovely, intense and characterful dram. Incredible rich and powerful, nothing for the faint-hearted. Likewise to be enjoyed neat or diluted.

Colour: Reddish gold.
Nose: Rich and powerful. Lots of red fruits, red berries, blackberry, strawberry and red apples. Voluminous with lingering spice, pepper, ginger and a bit aniseed. Delicate oak and subtle mint are coming through with gentle dried fruit in the back. Very aromatic and hugely complex!
Palate: Immediately fruitful with stewed red fruits, figs and gentle vanilla. Lingering oak spice, crystallised ginger, pepper and marzipan arrive, complemented by dark honey and delicate chocolate flavours. An embracing and savoury taste sensation, superbly complex on the tongue!
Finish: The medium length finish is sweet and nicely warm, with red dried fruit remaining for a good duration. Sticky dark honey, oak spice and slowly fading notes of herbs and nuts on the tail.
With water: Water adds subtle liquorice to the delicate fruity flavour. Fresher on the nose and very voluminous. Full-bodied, round and juicy with more oak spice in the back. Extremely delicate and quaffable. The finish is as great as neat.
Comments: A brilliant and flavoursome malt, elegant and delicate with and without water. Quite a complex character for its age with a perfect match of sweet and fruity flavours, and a pleasant spiciness. A lovely, well-structured, sophisticated malt with a real sweet-hearted charm.

I thank Yori Costa for the photograph!

Colour: Deep gold.
Nose: Lovely aromas of treacle toffee and gentle red apples. Sweetness of ripe fruit with a whiff of sherry and subtle nougat. Superbly fresh and vibrant with a touch of oak and lingering spiciness.
Palate: Deep and rich with lots of lingering treacle toffee and caramel, complemented by sweet sherry and baked red apples. The fruity sweet palate is perfectly balanced by fine herbal notes and soft oak tannins with a spicy tail. Very creamy, almost syrupy on the tongue. Delicious.
Finish: Long, sweet and warm. Very syrupy with hints of dark chocolate, herbs and dry oak spice in the finish.
With water: There's more sherry on the nose, sweet and round. Softer and more creamy on the palate with tamed spices. The finish is long, sweet and still warm. Extremely delicate.
Comments: A very well aged whisky indeed. Very aromatic with a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. The sherry casks didn't overpower the distillery character of this syrupy beauty.

Colour: Deep gold.
Nose: Beautiful refined nose with lots of sherry, but not overpowering. There's fruitiness coming up with peaches, apricots, strawberry and gooseberry, along with creamy vanilla sauce. Quite a lot is going on here, toffee, orange peel with nutty notes, and black pepper spice in the background. The alcohol by no means is pungent but very well integrated in this wide range of flavours. A rich and gorgeous nose!
Palate: Bold, intense, warm. Creamy balance with lots of fruitiness. Sweet sherry again, burnt caramel and roasted almonds. Then spiciness is coming through with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cracked black pepper. A perfect combination of sherry, fruits, and spices.
Finish: Warm and medium length finish. Creamy, sherry, and a fruity nuttiness with a dry end. Sticks on your tongue, mouth-coating.
With water: Gets softer and creamy. Still very toffee-driven, custard, more strawberries coming through. Stays sweet and well-balanced with peppery spice.
Comments: The sherry and high-powered alcohol strength work very well here. A well-balanced, medium complex dram with an excellent value for the money. Pure whisky at its natural state!

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the sample.

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: Lots of sherry - dark old style sherry. Bold and intense. Dark cherries soaked in rum or old madeira wine. Waves of Demerara sugar, figs, dates, spicy red fruits with a hint of flintstone and traces of sulphur. Superb!
Palate: Sweet, vibrant sherry, rum soaked raisins. Mouthcoating and rich. Hints of horse saddle, autumn foliage, bitter orange zest. Complex with a perfect balance of spirit and oak.
Finish: Long. Lingering sweetness and spice. Well-balanced, gets slightly drier in the end.
With water: Vibrant, almost prickling spice. Stays sweet with pleasant sherry and nutty flavours.
Comments: Absolutely brilliant whisky. Rich, powerful and spicy. This is whisky making in perfection!

Colour: Deep copper.
Nose: A bold and intense start of lovely dark fruits, red apples, raisins and prunes. There's a lot of richness here with vanilla, sweet toffee, brown sugar, followed by nutty tones, hazelnut and walnuts. After 21 years in the oak cask there is spiciness with ginger and cinnamon, along with dark chocolate and a lot of warmth. Very intense and complex. You can nose this for hours and identify every single flavour out of this very complex mixture. Great stuff!
Palate: A real charming dram, velvety, smooth and creamy. A lot of sweetness caused by sherry, dark honey, brown sugar, toffee, X-mas cake and rich fruit (mainly red apples). Big, intense with beautiful oaky notes and a gentle winter spiciness with lots of cinnamon coming through. Mouth-coating.
Finish: The finish is very long and warm. Fruity sweetness, apples, vanilla, chocolate and lingering winter spice along with cinnamon and pepper are staying for ages causing a pleasant mouth-feel.
With water: The fruitiness is almost jumping out of the glass with the spiciness is increasing, too. Still well-balanced but water definitely isn't necessary for this wonderful dram.
Comments: This is a brilliant whisky with intense depth and deep sherried flavours. Marvelously balance between oak and distillery character. Smooth yet complex. The ultimate after dinner dram while sitting in an armchair in front of a fireplace. Excellent!

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the sample.

Colour: Gold with bright amber notes.
Nose: An intense fruity start with ripe red apples, pineapple and banana along with toffee, sherry and vanilla (German Apfelstrudel). Honey and some brown sugar behind. Round, complex but less sweet compared to the 15yo. Fresh with delicate oak. A wonderful nose with significant depth. Improves and changes with air!
Palate: A wonderful fruitiness with apples and banana, followed by malty and nutty tones, marzipan, autumnal spice (cinnamon) and earthy notes. Tremendously rich, bold but soft, and round. Ends with slightly bitter orange peel flavours, and some dark chocolate is shining through.
Finish: Long, warm and spicy. Gets drier in the end with increased oaky spiciness and peppery tones. Mouth-coating!
With water: Water significantly increases the fruitiness and sweetness of the dram. There is more honey with spicy porridge and a peppery note.
Comments: A rich and spicy whisky, with added complexity compared to its predecessors. This is no aperitif style whisky anymore but an after dinner dram, best to appreciate in front of a fireplace. A dram with a wonderful nose, well-balanced, complex with a delicate mouthfeel. Let breath this whisky for at least 30 minutes to open up its full flavour spectrum.

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the sample and photo.

Colour: Light gold.
Nose: Breath in toffee and vanilla. Rich, complex and quite sweet. Clean and fresh with some fruitiness (peach?), touch of citrus coming through. Glengoyne typical green apples, now mashed apples. Creamy with a touch of maltiness and butterscotch. Very elegant and extremely pleasant on the nose!
Palate: Oily and sweet palate entry with lots of toffee, vanilla and a touch of citrus. Oaky spice is coming through along with cinnamon. The sherry casks add some nutty flavours, too. Nice mouthfeel with a tremendous balance.
Finish: Good length. Oily, sweet and malty finish with increased oaky spices on the tongue. Gets a bit drier in the end. Very pleasant and elegant. Mouth-coating but soft and round.
With water: Wow! Increased fruitiness with more sherry coming through. Less sweet with a touch more spiciness. Very delicate.
Comments: This is liquid toffee with a fruity background. Sweet and round with a lingering spiciness on the tongue. A brilliant dram, dangerously drinkable!

I thank Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd for the sample and photo.

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Very fresh nose. Starts quite fruity with green and red apples. Full of sherry flavours with a touch of raisins. Toffee, butterscotch and oak spice with hints of lemon pith dryness.
Palate: Strong start with a sweet infusion of sherry, brown sugar and malted barley. Delicate tones of raisins and even marzipan, mixed with red apples and prickling oak. Very appealing on the tongue!
Finish: Quite long with a delicate mouth feel. Soft nutty flavours with a long, dry and spicy finish.
With water: Significant more apples mixed with oaky spice and the remaining sweetness of sherry and brown sugar.
Comments: Considering its young age (between 8 and 12 years old), this is already a well-balanced and complex whisky. Very enjoyable neat. A lovely, sophisticated and charming dram. It definitely needs air to develop its full aroma.

Colour: Dark brown sherry.
Nose: Big, muscular sherry character. Full with dark fruits, plums and apricots. Waves of flavours coming and going alternating with demerara sugar, dark chocolate, marzipan, herbs and polished antique wood. Elegant intensity, rich and bold. You can nose this all night long.
Palate: Wow, this one blows you away! Bulky and sweet with a massive hit of sherry. Dark fruits, plums, apricots, Sevilla oranges and brown sugar blend well with bitter chocolate, espresso and vibrant old oak.
Finish: Very long and lingering. Sweet, warm and fruity with a dry oaky spiciness. Mouth-coating and slightly astringent.
With water: Water tames the sherry sweetness with oak, spice and herbs coming to the fore.
Comments: This is a very luscious dram. Sherry shines through all the way with great fruitiness and elegance. Well aged and complex. A must have for the hard core sherry aficionados.

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: After a reserved start there is a full potpourri of flavours you would expect from a dark sherry cask. So much ripe dark fruits, huge intense notes. Orange zest, some dark Seville orange marmalade, blueberries and blackberries, bitter chocolate and marzipan. Polished oak and cinnamon rounds out this whisky.
Palate: WOW! A big explosion of sherry, demerara sugar, fruits, rum soaked raisins and baked apples. The oak is a bit more active than the nose lets you expect but is intertwined with sherry, chocolate and fruit. Elegant and complex.
Finish: Good length. Lingering sweetness with bitter chocolate and oaky notes. Sensual and delicately spicy.
With water: Stays sweet with delicate dark chocolate. Feels a bit tingly.
Comments: Simply stunning. A complex and very enjoyable whisky. Powerful, superbly balanced. A malt to savour.

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very rich. Sherry sweetness, treacle followed by ripe dark fruits, raisins. Quite intense. Feels like cask strength rather than 46% only.
Palate: Very thick with tons of sherry and those dark dried fruits. Excellent mouthfeel, creamy, meaty, with chocolate and peppery spices in the background.
Finish: Good length with lingering dried fruit. Creamy, meaty, almost chewable. Hints of orange peel at the very end. Amazingly long.
With water: Stays sweet but vibrant. Increasing notes of orange and oak spices.
Comments: Quite a big whisky. A pleasant, complex malt with all the aroma and character one can expect from the sherry cask. And all this at a reasonable price. Well done Cadenhead! Want to see more of this.