Glengoyne 21 Year Old used to be the oldest expression in the core range of Glengoyne, until the 25 Year Old came along. It is matured in first-fill European oak sherry casks. With the recent rebranding of the bottles, it seems the price has gone up a bit, but it’s still pretty good value.
Glengoyne 21 yo ‘sherry matured’
(43%, OB 2013)
Glengoyne 21 yo ‘sherry matured’Nose: very lively and attractive. Richly sherried. Sour oranges. Red fruits (raspberries and redcurrants, candied apples) and cinnamon. A little leather and nuts. Vanilla cake and light cocoa. Touches of menthol as well. Balance is key.
Mouth: starts fresh and slightly sour, with very nice sherry notes but also a certain lightness that works well. Raspberries again. Apples, oranges. It then grows creamier (butterscotch, biscuits). Finally a wave of toasted oak and spices (especially cloves) which brings a slightly tangy dryness to it.
Finish: medium length, with cinnamon and green tea. Maybe a tad too dry now.
For such a large-scale release, Glengoyne 21 is very aromatic. Excellent balance and full of character. This could have been a cracker with a slightly higher ABV (like the 25) and a tamed oakiness towards the end. Around € 100 but prices seem to vary a lot.
Score: 86/100