We did the “Wee Tasting” tour for £12 each (discounted through the tour company we used) which included the distillery tour, a pour of their 12 year old, and a pour of their 18 year old. I jotted down a few notes from memory after we got back on the bus that I’ve included toward the end of this review but couldn’t review them properly.

Our tour guide (the gentleman in the high-visibility vest in this picture) was knowledgeable, personable, and made this tour completely worth it. We were able to see the process from start to finish (this was the only time we were allowed to take pictures) and even got a peek at their special cask warehouse. In this picture, the four dark red faced barrels on the bottom row are ones from 1972 that Glengoyne are trying to get to 50 years of age. The guide was saying they expected to be able to get around 100 to 150 bottles or so from the four casks. Maybe I’ll hit the lottery by the time they’re ready and be able to afford one…

In their shop, they had just about everything Glengoyne sells and then they had this cask. I’m wasn’t about to pass up a chance to bottle my own whisky, especially one that’s a cask strength sherried one. They do let you try it before you buy it, my taste buds were a little dull from the earlier samples (and my wife’s share of them) but I was impressed.

Fun Fact Did you know that the street Glengoyne is on is the southernmost border for Highland scotch? Their warehouse is technically on the Lowland side being on the other side of the street from their distillery.

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Distillery: Glengoyne

Bottler: Me!

Region: Highland

ABV: 56.5%, Cask Strength

Age: 13 years, 5 months, 18 days. Distilled on March 22, 2006 and bottled on September 9, 2019.

Price: £150 (less VAT, whenever the refund comes through)

Cask No.: 619

Cask Type: Sherry Puncheon.

Color: 0.9, Amontillado Sherry. Natural Color and Non-Chill Filtered.

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Nose (according to the wife): (She let out a little “yummm” before she started describing this). Lots of butterscotch accompanied by caramel and cream. It almost smells like a caramel macchiato. You can smell a bit of the malt barley mixed in as well.

Palate: Rich with a full bodied mouthfeel. There is a bit of creaminess but notes of caramel apples and pears dominate. There is a bit of warmth to this dram, almost as if the caramel was still warm. With a few drops of water, it cools down a tad along with some of the malt barley coming through as well.

Finish: Medium in length. It’s slightly on the dry side with some of the young oak influences. There is a lovely note that does linger of malt biscuits dipped in chocolate.

Conclusion: This guy starts off well and really ends well as well. The caramel macchiato in the nose is incredibly inviting and warm. The caramel apples and pears in the palate are fantastic. In the finish, that little hint of chocolate malt biscuits absolutely makes this memorable. I do wish there was a little more complexity to this, perhaps a hint more of chocolate somewhere else or some stronger sherry notes, but I am really being nitpicky at this point. I’ll have to very slowly savor this one. Would I buy another bottle? Maybe not for £150. Anything less, definitely.

Final Score: 90.

Scotch Whisky review #98, Highland Whisky Review #26, Whisky Network Review #129

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Bonus Notes:

Glengoyne 12: Slightly hot. Fairly straightforward and full of caramel and sherry. Decent.

Glengoyne 18: Almost a full on sherry bomb. There are some deep, red fruits along with a hint of aged wood. Very good.

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Scoring Legend:

• 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
• 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
• 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
• 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
• 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
• 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
• 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
• Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.