I’ve had a soft spot for Glentauchers for a while now. It’s not always the most polished, but its relative austerity combined with a fruity profile hits the right spot. Today we’ll take a look at three recent releases, all on the younger side, bottled by Cadenhead’s, The Whisky Exchange and Hogshead Indie.
My affinity for Glentauchers is based on the profile of what the distillery produced in the mid to late 1990s – although I’ve tried many excellent Glentauchers from other vintages as well. The main through line is a preference for ex-bourbon matured Glentauchers, which means I’m in luck today.
Up first is a Glentauchers 2013 10 Years bottled by The Whisky Exchange for their Seasons range (specifically Spring). It matured in an ex-bourbon barrel. No notes on how often it had been used prior to it being filled with Glentauchers.
Second, we’ll try a Glentauchers 2013 11 Years from Hogshead Indie. This release was bottled for this year’s Chichibu Whisky Matsuri festival and matured in a refill barrel.
Finally, we’ll have slightly older one for dessert. The Glentauchers 2008 16 Years was bottled by Cadenhead’s as part of the Chairman’s Stock range. It’s the only non-bourbon matured whisky today, having spent its years in a refill butt.
Glentauchers 2013 10 Years (58.6%, The Whisky Exchange ‘Seasons – Spring’, 2025)
Nose: Hints of gorse, as well as oatmeal and gentle cereal notes. Also a sliver of shortbread, some tart apples and cherry blossom. Only a tinge of chalk, but then some gentle leafy elements too.
Taste: Some straw, hay and gentle spices, as well as breakfast tea and chalk. Soft cereal-esque whispers as well as a tinge of olive oil, warm apple sauce and dried herbs.
Finish: Medium length. Ripe orchard fruits now. Mainly apples, some peach too.
Glentauchers 2013 11 Years (57.2%, Hogshead Indie, 2025)
Nose: Opening up on sweet cereal notes alongside jammy apricots, stewed apples and a light floral note. Again, there’s a hint of chalk here too, same as The Whisky Exchange’s release. Then light notes of green grapes, as well as some crisp and refreshing lime peel.
Taste: Good creaminess and exquisite balance between (a sugary) sweetness and vibrant fruits. The stewed apples make an encore, there’s a hint of white pepper, but also some sweet pears and a lovely maltiness.
Finish: Medium length. Lingering sweetness, gentle ripe fruits and just a tinge of oak.
Glentauchers 2008 16 Years (59.6%, Cadenhead’s ‘Charmain’s Stock’, 630 bts.)
Nose: Hints of currants, plums and crème de cassis, but also whiffs of peaches and just a tinge of tobacco leaves. There is something mildly herbacious about it as well, then followed by cinnamon and allspice.
Taste: The fruitiness of Glentauchers keeps the sherry influence in check. Not saying this isn’t a very sherried profile, but there’s balance. Some nutmeg, soft minerals and ripe strawberries, as well as more peach, a sliver of tobacco and mild notes of fennel.
Finish: Medium length. A touch of menthol, more tobacco and certainly some black pepper. Dark fruits linger.
