🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Tasted from a Glencairn glass. Tasted neat! This Glen Garioch is a pleasant example. It's not particularly complex and everything still seems quite youthful, but that's exactly what this bottling is all about.

Nase: Süß, Vanille, Orange, Malz, etwas Maracuja, dezente Eiche | Geschmack: süß, würzige Eiche, Vanille, leicht vergorener Apfel, etwas Orange, Malz | Abgang: Mittellang; süßes Malz mit Apfel und etwas Apfelschale bleiben. | Fazit: Die Nase beginnt süß. Vanille und Orange kommen zusammen mit Malz und etwas Maracuja. Dezente Eiche ist ebenfalls da. Der Geschmack geht kräftig los. Süße Noten und würzige Eiche gibt es zu Beginn. Ein leicht vergorener Apfel und etwas Orange folgen. Malz kommt dann noch dazu. Wasser macht die Nase süßer. Die Vanille kommt mehr zur Geltung. Der Geschmack wird etwas entspannter. Ein guter Whisky. Sehr intensive Noten. Fehlnoten habe ich keine. | 86-87 Punkte

A fantastic nose. Very fruity with lots of apple, a touch of pear, and apricot. Also some floral honey, vanilla custard, and a touch of wood spice. I'm thinking bergamot and anise. For me, the taste is far less than the smell. Unfortunately.

For years, Tilo Schnabel, under the name "The Caskhound," has been independently bottling whisky for the German market – and for just as long, he has consistently demonstrated – true to his name – an exceptionally keen nose for selecting the perfect whisky from the casks available at distilleries. In my opinion, this is particularly true for bourbon cask maturations, which is why these bottlings are always among the most interesting in his range for me, as they offer the closest tasting experience to the original distillate of a distillery. Does this also apply to the thirteen-year-old Glen Garioch matured in a first-fill bourbon cask? Time to take a closer look. Aroma: Pure bourbon cask maturations from Glen Garioch are rather rare on the market – whether original or independently bottled – so I was very curious to see what the first impression would be. And it is indeed very reserved and closed at first. Apart from a slightly alcoholic, fresh note with a hint of the typical bourbon vanilla, there isn't much to it initially. You definitely wouldn't guess it's thirteen years old. Quite the opposite: the whisky seems rather young, and it urgently needs the addition of water (not just for the olfactory enjoyment, by the way). But with the addition of water, everything changes. As if an invisible layer of ice has been broken, it suddenly opens up. The gentle notes of vanilla transform into a rich vanilla pudding, generously enriched with blossom honey and powdered sugar. The longer it sits, the more intensely this pudding transforms into a thick cookie dough. Garnished with ripe butter pears. What a difference a little water can make sometimes. Taste: There are, as is well known, experts out there who categorically refuse to add water to whiskies and categorically reject such bottlings as "too hot"—but anyone who does the same here is missing out on a truly delicate pleasure. This Glen Garioch only becomes truly drinkable with the addition of water, because without it, it's ultimately too strong, and the 54.8% ABV sometimes feels almost like 64.8%. With water, however—what a difference! The harsh, sharp bite transforms into a still intense, but significantly creamier sip. The roasted malt and vanilla are now even more pronounced, accompanied by the familiar ripe pear. The spiciness gives way to a tanginess, likely influenced by the oak cask. It's not complex, but it's very tasty nonetheless. Here, you really get close to the essence of Glen Garioch—and that's exactly what I was hoping for. Finish: In a word – successful. This dram has a medium to even rather long finish, with less vanilla and more of a juicy, green apple note. Overall, I find the finish extremely fruity, which reveals another side of this bottling and adds complexity. Furthermore, the thirteen years in the cask become clearly evident for the first time. This is a sip you'll gladly let linger for a few minutes before taking the next. In conclusion: This bottling delivers exactly what I expected – a good, very honest whisky at a more than fair price, which conveys the unfiltered character of the distillery, and thus of the Highlands, to my Glencairn. There are certainly far more complex Glen Garioch whiskies out there. But sometimes, a straightforward bourbon cask maturation is all you need – unless, of course, you suffer from a fear of water.

Looking at the older reviews of this whisky here and considering myself a GG-adept, i'll find this bottling, well.., overrated. For a 13 year old bourbon matured GG it has a sharp (alcoholic) and a bit fruity (citrus) nose. If you judge it less positive, glue. On the palate there's some pear to discover, apricot sours and some vanilla. Flavours disappear quickly and what's left in the finish, peppery, alcolholic metallic bites. With water the nose gives more fruitiness, green apple, white grapes. The palate becomes more balanced with the same fruits, freshness, a bit mineral and flat (water). The finish loses most of the pepper, and gives an overkill on lemon zest. That's a nice flavour in a balanced dram, but the main course here. The Caskhound bottled some good stuff last years, but this one doesn't fit the profile. There's better bourbon matured GG available, from the distillery if you don't mind spending some coin on a vintage GG or with reasonable prices from independant bottlers.