While Tri Carragh is gearing up for their next release, we’ll be taking a look at the current one. It’s the fifth release in the short time this independent bottler has been active, including a 33-year-old North British, 16-year-old Aultmore and 11-year-old Glen Garioch.
Tri Carragh’s previous release included a few malts finished in, shall we say, some more exotic casks. Think ex-port and ex-wine vessels. This fifth release is more straightforward. For example, they didn’t tinker with the North British at all, which spent all its years in a single refill ex-bourbon barrel.
The two single malts from Aultmore and Glen Garioch did receive a little extra treatment, but in more traditional sherry casks. The former spent its last five years in a first-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead, while the latter had to settle for “just” a two year finish in a first-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead.
North British 1991 33 Years (43.3%, Tri Carragh, 2024)
Nose: Varnish, ethyl acetate (nail polish). You know, the usual. It always takes time for a grain whisky to come alive. Hints of yellow cake, some strawberries and brioche after a little while, but also whispers of resin, breakfast cereals and coconut shavings.
Taste: Opening up on creamy vanilla, a pinch of white pepper, gentle notes of liquorice and a soft whisper of orange liqueur. There’s no escaping the varnish-y influence, but the gentle notes of cooked maize and baguettes are nice.
Finish: Short to medium. Soft notes of cloves, as well as vanilla custard and cornflakes.
Glen Garioch 2013 11 Years (54.7%, Tri Carragh, 2024)
Nose: Certainly not an inactive sherry cask. It’s fresh with rather vibrant citrus fruits. Big on the orange zest, but also some dark caramel notes, slivers of teak, a touch of fudge and finally tinned peaches. I quite like it.
Taste: Decently creamy with some gentle tannins, but immediately more citrus. Hints of lemon pith, then clementines. Also slivers of butterscotch, mead and a touch of crème caramel. Water brings out ripe apples, red berries and marmalade.
Finish: Medium. The tannins linger alongside all kinds of subtle fruits. Really nice.
Aultmore 2008 16 Years (55.4%, Tri Carragh, 2024)
Nose: Big, dry sherry. A little too much? Probably just on the edge, but let’s explore further. There are hints if burlap, coffee beans, dark chocolate and wood spice, but also fresher notes of Maraschino cherries, apple skin and red berries. Then some cinnamon also.
Taste: A good amount of sandalwood, some cigar boxes and a touch of allspice. The wood has been very influential. Also espresso, chocolate-covered coffee beans and almost burnt caramel. Slightly fresher with water, which introduces caramel-glazed apples to the mix, but not by much.
Finish: Medium to long. It’s more of the same, which I don’t mean in a bad way.
Samples provided by Tri Carragh
