Dewar Rattray ‘Single Cask’ Glengoyne 1998 (12 year old) 46%
Sample at cask strength 58%
Bourbon Cask 1289/ Dist: April 1998 Btl: Feb 2011/ Tasted: Feb 2011
Not a particularly inviting nose of burnt caramel. It’s oddly spirity and a bit on the plasticy side. In fact it reminds me of Deanston! Edgy, a touch dirty and with a very strong metallic note.
The palate is oily and viscous, again that burnt caramel which I can only assume is the oak mingles with some metallic notes. It’s pretty industrial stuff and unpleasantly astringent with some leafy/ nettly notes at the finish.
Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glengoyne 2001 (12 year old) 58.4%
Sherry Butt 388 (part)
Dist: Mar 2001 Btl: Apr 2013/ Tasted: Apr 2013
Quite a subtle nose for a sherried Glengoyne. Fresh, granity and slightly herbal with earth, liquorice, sugar coated orange and a touch of butter. A slight balsamic note appears along with hints of dunnage and cigar smoke. I’d be really enjoying this if it wasn’t for the musty, sulphur blemish.
The palate is soft and juicy. Again subtly sherried with hints of woody spice. Moist fruitcake mixed with liquorice, treacle and burnish wood comes through on the middle with more than a smidge of sulphur. Quite an alcoholic finish with a pervasive musty/ fusty spice finish.
Unfortunately water doesn’t banish the sulphur, which is a shame because the nose becomes pleasantly supple with liquid orange and gentle spices. The fruitcake notes are more centre stage now. The palate is pleasantly soft and juicy but there is no getting away from the fusty spice finish.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 