Glentauchers 12yo 2010/2023

Glentauchers 12yo 2010/2023

Soho Selection, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Amber brown
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, pencil lead, caramel, black tea, malted grains, leather, lemon zest. With water, white pepper, malted grains, strawberry jam, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Wet stones, malted grains, lemon zest, caramel, white pepper, mint, golden syrup, hints of leather. With water, wet stones, white pepper, malted grains, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, mint, pencil lead, caramel, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 11125. Quite minerally, lots of sweet notes with some pepper and mint. Complex, with several layers, but they aren’t very distinct. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glentauchers 8yo

Glentauchers 8yo

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Pink
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, chocolate, raisins, honey, strawberry jam, hints of malted grains. With water, vanilla, chocolate, cream, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, strawberry jam, chocolate, golden syrup, honey, black pepper. With water, cream, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Golden syrup, malted grains, cinnamon, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Chocolatey and sweet, lots of complexity over a good malty spine. I’m less enamoured of finished whisky in general, but this is good - well integrated, cask strength and complex.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glentauchers 9yo 2011/2021

Glentauchers 9yo 2011/2021

Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber rose
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, hazelnuts, honey, sandalwood, cinnamon, artificial grape flavour, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, red grapes, black pepper, damson jam, artificial grape flavour, vanilla, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, damson jam, artificial grape flavour, mint, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Sometimes, especially in young sherried whiskies, there’s this really lovely fake grape flavour that reminds me of Fanta grape soda. I used to be told it was bad for me and I didn’t drink much of it. So when I find it in whisky it takes me back to the fun I had trying to sneak a can or a bottle. This whisky has a lot of it, and not a lot of distillery character. Still, it’s a decent and enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glentauchers 25yo 1981/2006

Glentauchers 25yo 1981/2006

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pomeloes, winter melon, raisins, toffee, honey, kiwifruit, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, warm, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, winter melon, sandalwood, toffee, raisins, mint, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, mint, raisins, toffee, honey, hints of sandalwood, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 1053. Sherried, and fragrant, with a tinge of old bottle effect, this whisky is sweet and luscious. There’s toffee, honey, orange peel - it’s all very festive and delicious. Much appreciated.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glentauchers 22yo 1997/2020

Glentauchers 22yo 1997/2020

Renaissance, Whisky Baron
Single malt - Speyside 
Teak, hints of green
48.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, honeydew melons, dried apples, orange peel, barley sugar, hints of fresh cut grass.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, orange peel, apricots, peaches, leather hints of vanilla. 

Finish: Short. Peaches, black tea, leather, honey, apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 3884. This whisky was a strange colour, brownish, with a dirty green cast, almost like pond water. But don’t let it put you off, it’s magnificent. Lots of fruit and sweet notes, and a leathery, almost peaty note that makes it great. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glentauchers 27yo 1991/2018

Glentauchers 27yo 1991/2018

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon and Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, vanilla, black tea, sticky toffee pudding, dark chocolate. With water, bitter orange, vanilla, jasmine, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Bitter orange, black tea, dark chocolate, jasmine, toffee, hints of cucumber. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, bitter orange, toffee, dark chocolate. With water, sweeter, bitter orange marmalade, cucumber, dark chocolate, jasmine, honey.

Comments: 

This is a huge Glentauchers, robust, complex and bold. It's caramelly, sweet and sticky neat, but it opens up marvellously with water, turning into something floral and jammy. It's really delicious, the spirit wears its age very well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glentauchers 8yo 2008/2016

Glentauchers 8yo 2008/2016

Exclusives, Milroy's of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
65.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, blackcurrant cordial, red grapes, candle wax, vanilla, cinnamon. With water, strawberries, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla, toast, lemon juice, cinnamon, fresh baked bread. With water, sweeter, honey, blackcurrant cordial, strawberries. 
Finish: Short. Candle wax, fresh baked bread, vanilla, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Cask 900188. A very young, very strong, heavily sherried whisky. Still very flavourful and has decent complexity for its age. Plenty of tasty toast, spice and cereally notes. Excellent with water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glentauchers 19 yo 1996/2016

Glentauchers 19 yo 1996/2016

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, apples, vanilla, peaches, white grapes, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, turns watery, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Coffee, cream, milk chocolate, apples, vanilla, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, white grapes, cream, apples. 

Comments: 

Wow, this is luscious! A refreshing and light whisky that also tastes its age, with heaps of fruity complexity, darkening into chocolate and slightly bitter fragrant coffee on the tongue. Excellent finish too. This is my first 'Tauchers in 7 years.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 63.24 (Glentauchers 19 yo 1989/2009)

SMWS 63.24 (Glentauchers 19 yo 1989/2009)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, raisins, cream soda, mothballs, honey, hints of vanilla, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, watery, loose, turns astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, raisins, cream soda, mothballs, peat, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Raisins, black tea, orange peel.

Comments:

Loaded with fruit and tannins. It's quite chemical, and a little mouth puckering. Not something very common, this whisky. It's light and flavourful, with some slightly unpleasant flavours. But those add to the complexity, which I like.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glentauchers Distillery

Glentauchers Distillery
Mulben
Keith
Banffshire AB55 6YL

Speyside, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

Expressions of this whisky are difficult to come by, but the ones I've tried so far are quite distinctive in some ways. There are a lot of sweet and light flavour elements present, as you can see from the wordle below. However, there are two obvious flavours - black tea and butter. I associate this with Russian food, somehow. Maybe it's the way black tea, sugar, butter and black bread always go with a Russian meal.

The black tea flavours are not astringent on the tongue. Rather, there is a hint of bitterness that lingers a little in the finish. So with the butter - most whiskies are a little buttery and sweet because of a high alcohol content. The butter flavours here are slightly milky, salty, and different. I wouldn't call the whiskies from Glentauchers particularly outstanding, but they are unusual, drinkable, and, in some cases, rather good!



All the Glentauchers I've tasted so far are here.

SMWS 63.22 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008) - good
SMWS 63.21 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008) - good
Glentauchers 1990 10 yo (1990/2001) - good

Distillery history

This distillery was founded in 1898 by James Buchanan and WP Lowrie (by way of the Glentauchers Distillery Co.). The company changed names a few times, eventually becoming James Buchanan and Co. and was merged with Dewars in 1915. Buchanan-Dewars joined Distillers Company Ltd in 1925, eventually becoming United Distillers. They sold Glentauchers to what was eventually to become Allied Domecq in 1989. Pernod Ricard acquired Glentauchers in 2005 by buying Allied Domecq.

There's a semi-official Gordon & Macphail 10 yo bottling, which is the most widely available. A 15 yo official bottling was released in 2000. Other than that, there are some independent bottlings released in 2006. There's a lot of this whisky in Teachers, Ballantine's and Black & White.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Reservoir fed by Rosarie Burn or Mulben Springs
Washbacks: Six, larch, 60,000 litres each
Wash stills: Three, normal neck, 10,000 litres
Spirit stills: Three, normal neck, 10,500 litres
Spirit still Lyne arm: Nearly 15 degrees descending
Production per year: 3,400,000 litres

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

SMWS 63.22 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

SMWS 63.22 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Sunset pink
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, black tea, condensed milk, raisins, hints of milk chocolate, hints of plums. With water, pear, plums.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, volatile, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Condensed milk, cream, butter, black tea, milk chocolate, Baileys. With water, more fruity, orange peel, plum tart.
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, cream, raisins.

Comments:

Very milky, much like Baileys, although I swear I didn't add cream! Got more fruity with water, as I'd expect a Glentauchers to be. Very pleasant whisky, probably the best I've had from this distillery so far.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 63.21 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

SMWS 63.21 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Honey gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Boiled sweets, black tea, almonds, butter, coconut, lemons, hints of roast ham.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, expands slightly in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, coconut, lemons, butter cookies, vanilla, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, vanilla, caramel.

Comments:

Shows no influence of peat, except maybe for the very subtle roast ham in the nose. Lots of butter, vanilla and fruit, just like a pound cake I suppose. Still quite light for a Speyside, tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glentauchers 1990 10 yo (1990/2001)

Glentauchers 1990 10 yo (1990/2001)

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Beer, sweet cream, bitter Chinese herbs, berries. Hint of grass.
Mouthfeel:Medium body, starts watery, thickens.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Barley, malty, hoppy beer, peanuts, eucalyptus oil.
Finish: Long. Warm, cayenne pepper, peanuts, hint of hops.

Comments:

This one was actually bottled by Gordon & Macphail - it's a semi-official bottling, done with the blessing of the distillery. Quite cereally, with an unusual bitter note for a Speyside. Strange finish, makes me want to explore other expressions from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.