A boutique independent bottler from Belgium, Liquid Art celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year. They’ve released two bottlings to mark the occassion, a Glen Garioch 2011 and a Glentauchers 2008. A third celebratory release will follow at a later date.

Liquid Art has a relatively small footprint, launching maybe a handful of releases each year, most of which are sold primarily within Belgian borders. But the Netherlands shares a border with Belgium, so Liquid Art wasn’t a total unknown for me. Its founders have played a prominent role in the whisky community. I don’t know them personally, but they’re almost all familiar names to me.

While I’ve never had the privilege of tasting any of their releases, Liquid Art’s good reputation has preceded them. And so I’m confident this bottler’s anniversary releases will live up to a certain standard, even though a Glen Garioch 2011 and Glentauchers 2008 don’t seem the most noteworthy on the surface.

glen garioch 2011 liquid art 10th anniversary

Glen Garioch 2011 (52.1%, Liquid Art ’10th Anniversary’, 2023)

Nose: Fresh and fruity with an array of orchard fruits. It’s pear skin and stewed apples galore. That’s the initial impression at least. Then a hint of marzipan, some cotton candy grapes, leather and a buttery tinge, while there is a slight touch of wet pebbles too. Rather excellent.
Taste: A gratifyingly oily mouthfeel with just a sliver of mead, a pinch of black pepper and caramel-glazed apples. There’s a whisper of sponge too, while fennel make an appearance as well, followed by a gentle rootiness and elegant citrus notes that are really pleasant.
Finish: Medium length with a soft leafiness. Greener than you’d expect, but the fruits remain as well.

Conclusion

Certainly a pleasant surprise. I don’t think I’ve tasted a better young Glen Garioch than this one. I gravitate towards Glen Garioch pre-1995, but have never really found one from the late 2000s or early 2010s that I found fully satisfying. Until now.

8.7

glentauchers 2008 liquid art 10th anniversary

Glentauchers 2008 (51.7%, Liquid Art ’10th Anniversary’, 2024)

Nose: A mixture of copper coins and draff initially. It mellows after a little while though, becoming sweeter. Hints of cherried candy canes, raspberry-flavoured hard candy (from Schuttelaar) and apple blossom. Also a tinge of nougat and definitely some chalk.
Taste: Velvety mouthfeel and arriving on white pepper. Hints of honey, also tangerines and a few sultanas. There’s some apple sauce too, but then a sliver of liquorice, fennel and walnut skins.
Finish: Medium length. Hints of ripe peaches, more sultanas and a hint of white chocolate and fudge.

Conclusion

Very different from the Glen Garioch, but here too there's room to shine for the spirit. This is a Glentauchers that elegantly interweaves its own fruitiness with the influence from the sherry casks.

8.6

Samples provided by Liquid Art