Scotch Whisky Review #510: Glen Elgin 11 Year (2009) Single Malts of Scotland Hand Selected for Fujioka’s Wine Club

Distillery: Glen Elgin.

Bottler: Elixir Distillers.

Region: Speyside.

Age: 11 year. Distilled November 6th, 2009 and bottled on December 17, 2020.

ABV: 59.7%.

Cask Type: Hogshead.

Color: 0.2, Pale Straw.

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Nose: This is pretty fresh and light on the nose. Lemongrass is the major note though you also get a brief bit of cream first the first few sniffs that disappears afterwards.

Palate: At full strength, it is a bit too hot for me. With water, it is easier to drink but it still shows signs of perhaps needing more time in the cask. You get a bit of creamy and a bit of lemongrass along with some fruitier notes with apple coming to mind. It reminds me slightly of a Thai green curry but without any of the savory bits.

Finish: Pretty short. Citrus peel and white pepper.

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Conclusion: It’s been a while since I’ve had a Glen Elgin so I was curious to see how I’d get along with this one. There are some nice parts to it for sure, the nose was quite refreshing and the palate had the makings of something good, but ultimately it felt like it needed more time in the cask to mellow out some more. I did end up making a highball with this and it did make for an excellent one. The creamy notes were enhanced leading to a really fun little cocktail, seems like this is best used as a mixer than on its own.

Rating: 73.

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Scotch Whisky Review #510, Speyside Review #181, Whisky Network Review #675

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.