Again an oldie, Glengoyne 1969 this time, one of these green bottles in Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection, topped with a golden seal. Although it has an excellent reputation among Belgian whisky enthusiasts, it seems to be much less appreciated in other circles. Always make up your own mind.
There is another version at 62,8% which is 27 years old. Both seem to have similar profiles.
Glengoyne 26 yo 1969 (63%, Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection 1996, Chairman Stock)
Nose: very jammy fruits: apricot jam, quince jelly, whitecurrants, mirabelles, gooseberry pie… Stewed fruits, but also fresh and fragrant apricots and strawberries. Hints of marshmallow / rosewater lokum. Peonies. A little vanilla. Some fruit tea and late harvest wine. Also lots of polished oak and beeswax, mixed with pollen, honey and other beehive notes. Very elegant oak.
Mouth: quite oily and again, such a fruit basket! In line with BenRiach 1976, Longmorn 1969 or Caperdonich 1972. Apricots, oranges, greengages, pink grapefruit, white cherries… Juicy yellow raisins. Honey and these lovely waxy notes again. Moves towards cinnamon and mint, exotic woods (cedar?) and blonde tobacco. Some pepper and an oaky dryness towards the finish but what a delicious palate.
Finish: long, half spicy, half fruity, with traces of menthol.
All these Maniacs who think this is worth 88 points, I’ll take your bottles please, thank you very much. This is just excellent Glengoyne, full of (tropical) fruits and beehive notes (a combo that always does it for me). Thanks Luc.
Score: 94/100