glen garioch loch lomond blended malt decadent drams review

Glen Garioch 2003 / Loch Lomond 2009 / Blended Malt 2001 (Decadent Drams)

In moving on from the Whisky Sponge era, Decadent Drinks launched a new range for all sorts of spirits, including “all the various whiskies we can source from £00.01, all the way up to £350.00 (ish).” This series is called Decadent Drams, and today we’re going to be trying some of the first releases from it.

Three whiskies in total. There’s a Glen Garioch 2003 21 Years, just a straight up single cask from a first-fill hogshead. I loved a similar release, Edition No. 91 from the Whisky Sponge series. This should very much be a high-quality whisky as well. Just as good? We’ll see.

There’s more to the Loch Lomond 2009 15 Years than you might think initially. It is made by combining a refill hogshead of 2009 Loch Lomond single malt with a first-fill hogshead of 2009 Inchmurrin single malt. As you may know, both distillates are made at the Loch Lomond distillery, but they have very different characteristics.

And finally a Blended Malt 2001 23 Years also. Finished for a year in an ex-Ardbeg refill butt. The result is quite mesmerising.


blended malt 2001 23 years decadent drams

Blended Malt 2001 23 Years (45.1%, Decadent Drams, 587 bts.)

Nose: Wait, what’s this? Right, it was finished in an ex-Ardbeg refill butt! That certainly adds an interesting layer. It’s full of dark fruits, tobacco, cocoa powder and even a touch of charcoal. Smoked strawberries too, a pinch of pepper and finally some rich dates.
Taste: A moderately syrupy mouthfeel. Slightly more ashy than the nose, but still plenty of earthy goodness. More tobacco, more dried fruits, but also Maraschino cherries and a hint of damp, dunnage-y oak.
Finish: Medium length. And honestly? It’s more of the above.

Conclusion
What a fun surprise this is. I must stop liking ex-Islay cask finished whiskies, or else people may start to think that I approve of these types of practices.
8.7

Loch lomond 2009 15 years decadent drams

Loch Lomond 2009 15 Years (53%, Decadent Drams, 2024)

Nose: There’s a sliver of copper, which is quickly followed by jammy apricots, just a touch of sultanas, a whisper of brioche and then more exotic fruits (although a light floral hit too). Think papaya, some lychee and mango.
Taste: A nice oiliness is what initially stands out, but that’s quickly overtaken by all kinds of luscious fruits. Like, really superbly fruity. Citrus fruits, stone fruits, tropical fruits. I could go into detail, but I don’t even feel like I need to.
Finish: It’s long. It’s fruity. It’s utterly delicious.

Conclusion
Fruits, fruits, fruits. By the truckload. This must be one of the healthiest whisky I’ve ever tasted. (Just in case, I know alcohol isn’t healthy.) At 95 quid it is one of the best value whiskies I’ve tried this year.
9

glen garioch 2003 21 years decadent drams

Glen Garioch 2003 23 Years (55%, Decadent Drams, 248 bts.)

Nose: Immediately a touch of buttery croissant, but maybe one with a some peach marmalade filling. Does that exist? Also a whiff of lemon drizzle cake, slivers of lawn clippings and some Acacia honey. Yeah, it’s good.
Taste: Lovely velvety mouthfeel. Another exquisitely tropical malt. Not to the extend of the above Loch Lomond, but that also means this has maybe a little more depth. There’s tinned pineapple, a hint of mint, some mango and an assortment of waxes. Also something slightly herbaceous and classic.
Finish: Medium length. Slivers of citrus, some gentle oak spices and also a hint of banana.

Conclusion
I would sooner buy a bottle of the Loch Lomond. (Probably.) That's nothing to do with price, but with personal preference. Why did I score the Glen Garioch higher? Because there's just more depth and complexity. It is an exquisite whisky with not just tropical elements, but so much more.
9.1

Samples provided by Decadent Drinks

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