Murray McDavid ‘Mission Gold Series’ Glenglassaugh 1986 (20 year old) 55.3%
Fresh Sherry/ Dist: 1986 Btl: 2006/ Tasted: May 2007
One smell and yes this is a sherry cask, with all that ‘in yer face’ lush rich, spicy, succulent sherry fruit. There is absolutely no distillery character in sight, but one has to ask if Glenglassaugh ever had any distillery character (apart from wild grassy gorse and sackcloth or old hessian), I mean its owners Highland Distillers never thought it had enough character to bottle it in its own right, (family silver excluded) and most of its production went for blending in Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, although it has to be said it is a damn fine sherry cask.
On the palate it is rich, honied and sherried (no surprise) it is raw and up front and personal. It reminds me of and old bottling of theirs, the 1990 Linkwood with those heavy vegetal notes. A drop of water brings out a slight sulphur/ gun smoke note (which unfortunately let it down).
So in summing up it Sherry 1 v Distillery Character 0. I love its intensity and frankly if it wasn’t for that sulphur note it would definitely be a good!
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 