Older Glentauchers, some from the mid-1990s or late 1980s, can be a real treat. But my experience with younger Glentauchers is limited, and we’ve been seeing more of them lately. (And much younger whisky, in general, these past few years.) This young Glentauchers 2014 8 Years by James Eadie matured in bourbon barrels, offering a chance to examine the fruity distillate in closer detail.
Seeing as this is the first review of a James Eadie bottling on Words of Whisky, a small introduction is warranted. Mostly because I’m looking for any excuse to promote the excellent book they published last year, The Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland.
It’s a book that rivals Alfred Barnard’s The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, but unlike Barnard’s masterpiece includes actual pictures of distilleries from the 1920s. It’s not a cheap book – although I’ve seen way more expensive whisky and spirit books released in the past few years – yet if you’re into this kind of stuff, you’re not going to be disappointed.
If you’re not much of a reader, then first of all, what are you doing reading this? Secondly, you’re missing out. But to each their own. Now let’s return to what you came here for, a review of a Glentauchers 2014 8 Years by James Eadie. It’s a small batch release comprising three first-fill bourbon barrels in total.
Glentauchers 2014 8 Years (46%, James Eadie, 2022)
Nose: Light, fruity and juicy with a mineral edge. Candied bananas, apple juice, some white chocolate and buttery popcorn. Maybe a few gentle floral notes too. Seemingly the bourbon casks do most of the talking, but there’s plenty of room for the spirit too.
Taste: Creamy mouthfeel, especially considering its abv. It certainly shares DNA with its older siblings. Hints of white pepper (but kept in check) with a hint of ginger, nougat, vanilla and butter biscuits. Just a light sprinkle of lime zest too.
Finish: Short to medium. Notes of vanilla, ripe bananas and processed sugar.
Photo: Whiskybase
I’ve been tempted to buy the Eadie book, but the 150 pound price tag seems a bit over the top. They should’ve made it like the Laphroaig Ian Hunter range where the book comes with a bottle. 😉
Keep up the great content!
Cheers Ryan! You’re right, it is expensive, yet I can think of some other whisky books that are way more expensive even, and certainly less seminal. But I can’t fault anyone for not wanting to pay 150 quid for a book 🙂