Cadenhead Single Cask Glentauchers-Glenlivet 1990 Aged 27 Years

Style: Fruity and Herbal

Rating: ☆ [Recommended]

Nose:

Initially tight camphor aroma, accompanied by a narrow stream of fruitiness. A kumquat citrus overture gradually morphs into notes of white peaches, lychees, and crisp watermelons. The sweetness intensifies - resembling a ripe fruit salad gently seeped in honey and vanilla-infused maltose. A prominent spearmint presence in the background. Decent nose.

Palate:

The palate shifts towards a more confectionary-driven profile. Citrus and summer fruits take on a glazed character, glossed with a layer of delicious syrup. Schnapps and barley combine with black peppercorns, introducing a drier touch in the middle. Transitioning into hints of turmeric, fennel seeds, and creamy vanilla. The citrus component intensifies and chorusing brightly towards the end.

Finish:

Citrus and stone fruits echo beautifully as the malt flavor comes back into focus. There are slight touches of pithy bitterness, but the sweetness lingers until the very end, delivering an excellent finish.

Thoughts:

With each pour, the quality of Glentauchers becomes increasingly apparent. Despite being a workhorse and lesser-known distillery, the structure and complexity built around the sweetness at this age are astonishing. This cask stands out when compared to many modern makes, which are often one-dimensional even at advanced maturation stages. Perhaps this is one of the rare casks Cadenhead has selected, but boy, doesn’t that make you miss the Gold label series even more?

[54.4% | Independent Bottling | 1990 Distilled | 2018 Bottled | Single Cask | Cask Strength | Bourbon Barrel | 168 Bottles | *+]