Dewar Rattray Glenkinchie Tasting Notes

Dewar Rattray ‘Individual Cask Bottling’ Glenkinchie 1975 (33 year old) 60.7%

Refill Hogshead – Cask 2967/ Dist: Aug 1975 Btl: Nov 2008/ Tasted: Nov 2008

Yes that’s correct 33 years old! I really couldn’t believe it. Knowing how light the character is I though this may well be somewhat old and woody and initially it is, but then something magical happens. The woody curtain parts to reveal an awesome depth of the most glorious spicy orange fruit imaginable Ok, so there’s not a huge amount of complexity but the depth! The fruit takes on a wonderful perfumed sheen and there’s some malty goodness at its core.

On the palate the oils and heavy woody spice notes battle it out, eventually revealing luscious mature honey and then the alcohol sears the tongue – I think it needs some water!

And…… wow! Major aromas of perfumed orange overload the senses along with some cocoa and then its back to the wood spices and a thread of barley. The palate is absolutely unbelievable. The orange fruit creeps up and gently fills the mouth with the oily and heavy spices caressing. There’s even a hint of rum butter, ginger and malt. And it leaves an oily, wood infused finale. I’m in shock. I can’t say this enough – It’s amazing!

Glenkinchie Distillery Bottlings Tasting Notes

Glenkinchie 59.3%

Distillery Only Bottling

Amontillado Cask(?)

Code: L0 077

Btl: 2010

Tasted: Nov 2010

I would guess that the majority of the spirit in this bottle has spent its entire life in an ex-Amontillado cask as that’s what all the aromas consist of. A really clean nose with all the nutty, sweet, spicy notes that you would expect sans distillery character!

The palate is very much the same. The alcohol masks the finish just allowing the oak to bitter out at the end. Water doesn’t change much to be honest. It’s fine if you like this type of dram. Personally I’d stick with the standard distillers edition.

Glenkinchie 10 year old 43%

Tasted: Aug 2005

An aromatic nose of orange blossom, spice, brown sugar and honey. However there is a slight sulphur note in the background.

A smooth, light malt with a rounded flavour and a hint of sweetness, smoke and heather. Like the nose is there is a whiff of sulphur but it has a pleasant mouth coating finish.

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Tasted: Apr 2010

A really dreadful nose, so off key, it’s untrue. Wet card and dirty orange fruit accented by some marc like botanicals and a sugary sweetness. A touch of murky coffee adds to the unpleasantness.

The palate is sugary sweet, with a touch of orange blossom distillery character. Only marginally better than the nose. There is some malt on the middle but it becomes a bit like fizzy sherbet! Short and botanical finish with that murky over boiled coffee note returning. Oh dear!

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Code: L2164CM000

Btl: 2012

Tasted: Dec 2012

The nose is a mix of boiled sweets, rose petal Turkish delight, straw and earthy yet gently sweet barley. With time it becomes sweeter and more honeyed giving the impression of maybe a Sauternes finish? But it’s not particularly grapey. Later some white fruit and creamy oak appears.

Soft and slightly creamy on the palate, opening with hints of straw along with a touch of citrus and grass followed by some mouth-filling, sweet barley, shot through with a sliver of lime. Good length with a rather sugary sweet finish and slightly drying wood notes. In conclusion: The nose is very sweet, which gives the impression of a wine finish. The palate is less sweet and has a better balance. It’s pleasant enough

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Re-Tasted: Jan 2013

A briny, wet cardboard and cereal nose with hints of oily confected, boiled sweets.

The palate is oily, with wet cardboard and cereal. Seriously unclean. The finish is short and confected. In conclusion: Not exactly earth shattering!

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Code: L3052CM000

Btl: 2013

Re-Tasted: Jan 2014

Quite a salty and savoury nose. Under ripe banana, kumquat and soy sauce. It’s a real Chinese takeaway malt! With time a little smoke and malt oil appears. Definitely unusual!

The palate is soft, rounded and a little innocuous to be honest. A little malt, barley and salt appear along with some late creamy/ toffee’d oak. The finish is short and hot. In conclusion: Apart from the nose it’s eminently forgettable.

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Re-Tasted: Feb 2016

The nose is vivacious and estery with banana, apricot, apple and toffee. With time a subtle herbal note.

The palate is like the nose, with mouth-filling estery banana and toffee. Relatively simplistic but pleasantly deep. Lightly herbal middle. Long with  lingering banana, toffee and herbs.

Glenkinchie 12 year old 43%

Code: L7115CM000

Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Feb 2018

Aromas of boiled sweets, American oak, rose petals and a touch of treacle.

The palate is a little dusty and cardboardy with rose water and Turkish delight. Good length with the Turkish delight notes lingering.

Glenkinchie 1992 (15 year old) ‘Distillers Edition’ 43% 

Bourbon/ Amontillado

Code: G280-7-D/ Dist: 1992 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: Dec 2008

Full and fruity with juicy, sweet oranges on the nose. Very rich but kept in check by the crisp barley notes. It glides smoothly into some crème brulee, vanilla malt and some divine coffee-spices. The finishing cask adds a lovely nuttiness and the balance is pretty much spot on.

The palate is soft and viscous. Like the nose the distillery character of rose oil and orange blossom leads the way followed by malt and a touch of honey. The middle is a touch tannic but the amontillado supplies a wonderful nutty piquancy which rescues it. A sugary candied almond note appears on the finish along with a slight coffee/ tobacco note. Actually its quiet enjoyable and the biggest surprise of all the six distillers editions I tasted.

Glenkinchie 1996 (15 year old) Distillers Edition 43%

Bourbon/ Amontillado

Code: G/284-7-D/ Dist: 1996 Btl: 2011/ Tasted: June 2012

A rich, dense and aromatic nose of nutty, sherried fruit. Rather juicy and as per usual, very pleasantly balanced with the distillery character coming through with hints of herbal barley, white liquorice and grass. With time some lightly toasted praline notes appear.

The palate is soft and slightly nutty in character. There is possibly a touch more oak than I remember but in saying that the distillery character still shows with delicate rose petal, barley and grass. Pleasantly spicy on the middle with the alcohol adding a touch of freshness. The oak comes back on the finish adding a touch of liquorice and light treacle toffee.