The first ever Scottish distillery I visited was Glenkinchie. There’s no special reason for this, it’s more of a coincidence. When I visited Scotland for the first time, I did so by using the ferry from IJmuiden (NL) to Newcastle (GB). After arriving in Newcastle, you drive up north. And the first distillery you come across is Glenkinchie.
Now Glenkinchie was not on my list of distilleries I wanted to visit, but when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t pass it up. It turned out to be a very attractive distillery. Beautiful brick buildings. And situated in a tiny, picturesque village. It proved to be a wonderful welcome into Scotland.
The whisky that comes out of Glenkinchie is for the most part not very remarkable. Their entry-level 12yo is fine, but won’t win an award anytime soon. Up until 2012 there was also an annual release of a Glenkinchie Distillers Edition. And that is the one we’ll review today. Like with every expression in the Distillers Edition-series, this one is also double matured. Diageo used Amontillado casks for the second maturation period.
Glenkinchie 1999/2012 (43%, OB ‘Distillers Edition’)
Nose: A light spiciness (cinnamon) with cookie dough. Cherries and oranges supply a bit of sweetness. Very uncomplicated and straight forward.
Taste: Much more spices now with cloves, nutmeg and pepper. A woody bitterness also, followed by a hint of sweet cherry syrup, but there’s also a sourness here.
Finish: Oaky and bitter. Fairly short.
Rating: 80
It’s a fine whisky, a prototypical 80 point dram for me. Very middle of the pack.
Thanks to Nathaniel for the sample.
