We’ve been treated to some beautiful series by Berry Bros & Rudd in recent years. Now, there’s another one, this time focusing on Scotland. It’s called Glens & Valleys, and totals 25 bottlings from 10 distilleries, including Glen Ord, Linkwood, Glen Garioch and Blair Athol.
A few of the releases are exclusively available at Berry Bros’ webshop, others only in the UK, but many will make their way to international retail partners. The Glens & Valleys doesn’t quite capture my imagination as much as The Pioneers or the Nordic Casks did. The theme isn’t as well-defined or creative as the aforementioned series, but in the end it’s all about the quality of the range.
Felix Dear, Spirits Curator at Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: “You’ll find whiskies that epitomise the distinctiveness of their respective distilleries, alongside the landscape they reside in; while others have the additional influence of flavour through varied cask finishes. These special editions have been infused with distinct flavours from casks sourced through our long-standing relationships with world-class producers.”
I was generously sent a fair few samples from the new range. Too much to review here all at once, so I made a random selection. Subconsciously, I picked four whiskies that all turned out to be more or less sherried. Probably not the best representation of the entire range, but what’s done is done. Maybe I’ll get to the other ones sometime in the future.
Glen Ord 2007 16 Years (56.2%, Berry Bros & Rudd ‘Glens & Valleys’, C#01075)
- The label says it matured in a hogshead and wasn’t finished. From the smell and taste of it, that hogshead likely was not an ex-bourbon one. I believe Pedro Ximénez to be a plausible suspect.
Nose: Notes of damp leaves, forest floor and chalk. Plenty of juicy fruits also, highlighted by plums, Maraschino cherries and a sprinkle of peach. Slightly floral as well, but there’s an added rhubarb tartness as well. Slivers of Demerara sugar too.
Taste: Rather viscous and cloying. Almost sickly. Sweet, but slightly acidic also. Dark chocolate, cherries and hints of aceto di balsamico. Some blackcurrants and cranberries also. Hints of nutmeg as well, but then some After Eight too.
Finish: Medium length. Oak spices, mint and chocolate, as well as dark fruits.
Glen Garioch 2011 12 Years (57.2%, Berry Bros & Rudd ‘Glens & Valleys’, C#1333)
- Initially matured in a barrel and then finished in an ex-Oloroso cask. For how long? I don’t know.
Nose: Hint of salty liquorice at first, or maybe my Dutch mind is playing tricks on me. Now its all sultanas, charred oak, vanilla custard and dried leaves. Also touches of stewed apples, Love Hearts and pralines. Maybe even a whiff of candlewax.
Taste: Plenty of (oak) spices, highlighted by cinnamon, pepper and allspice. Also whiffs of sandalwood, some creamy hazelnuts, eucalyptus and, there it is again, liquorice.
Finish: Medium length with gentles spices, a faint nuttiness and cinnamon.
Linkwood 2010 14 Years (52%, Berry Bros & Rudd ‘Glens & Valleys’, C#301241)
- Also initially matured in a hogshead followed by a finish in an ex-Pedro Ximénez cask. Length unknown.
Nose: An immediate sense of orchard fruits, led by grainy pears and juicy apples. There’s a gentle leafiness as well, mainly concentrated on lawn clippings, but maybe also some conifer. But there are more classic sherry identifiers also, such as raisins, dried (and even candied) fruits. Finally some candy floss too.
Taste: Slightly sticky from the Pedro Ximènez, but Linkwood’s fruitiness is here. Think oranges and apples. Even peaches. Also touches of mocha, Acacia honey and light caramel. Some charred, creamy oak as well, accompanied by plenty of crème caramel and meringue.
Finish: Lingering sweetness, gentle notes of fennel and soft spices.
Blair Athol 2009 14 Years (53.8%, Berry Bros & Rudd ‘Glens & Valleys’, C#307602)
- This Blair Athol started its life in a hogshead, but was finished in an ex-Pedro Ximénez cask.
Nose: There’s a good malty base here, although the dates, blackcurrants and figs take centre stage. Vanilla too, in spades, accompanied by (almost burnt) caramel, gentle floral notes and a fair bit of honey. Then mocha, as well as milk chocolate and a drizzle of golden syrup.
Taste: Again, it’s pretty sweet. There’s a slight herbaciousness to keep things in check, as well as some cloves and oaky dryness. More coffee-esque notes as well, although the customary raisins are never far away.
Finish: Medium length. More of the above.
Samples provided by Berry Bros & Rudd
