Official tasting notes.
“The influence of the sherry is unmistakeable at the nose, too: very winey, rich, nutty. The style is definitely dry and oaky, with coffee, dark chocolate, and liquorice root. A balsamic note of old wooden furniture too.
The initial attack at the palate is very oaky, too, with echoes of pinewood… but also some fragrance of cereals! While tannic, it also has plenty of dried plums, orange peel, blueberry jam, black cherries, bitter cocoa powder. And in the end, we also find a note of salted black liquorice! This curiously appetizing saltiness grows in the finale, contrasting the spicy and oaky notes.”
John Atkins –
Also a new name to me. This is why these tastings are so much fun! Olorosso, Sherry finish only. 59.6% – just as well for all those who just can’t stomach 59.7 ABV 🙂
It presents amazingly….a reddish brown hue. Swirled around, lovely long legs of oily flavour slowly melt down the glass. It smells reminiscent of the wines I love – soft tannins, aged – the wood having time to tell its story and impart its wisdom. You can smell each of the 30 years. I’m delighted and satisfied with the olfactory experience alone.Take your time with this one. Sight, Smell…so how does it taste? Do I ruin this now by looking at the price. It looks and smells like I can’t afford it.
Sound – I put my ear to the glass and swear I can hear the Speyside wind.
Taste – Research tells me Glen Keith was originally set up as a secondary distillery for Chivas Regal in the 50’s. You definitely get that influence here. The distillery was shut down for a while in 1999, (reopening in 2019) which makes this dram we’re enjoying probably some of their 10 year old they were producing around that time. Boy has it aged well. We’ve all had Chivas right? But Think Chivas on steroids. An exceptional whisky. That’s why these tastings are so much fun.
Okay, I just looked at the price. I was right. To have the opportunity to enjoy this is a rare gift and a great way to end the tasting. If you have the means. This is one to get.