I know chapter five has been launched last weekend, but we’re still catching up with chapters three and four of the Whiskyland series. The first is a Glen Grant 1993, similar to one of the last bottlings of the Sponge series. The other one is even older: Benriach 1991. Both from refill casks.
Glen Grant 31 yo 1993 (52,7%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2024, refill bourbon barrel, 129 btl.)
Nose: nice and juicy fruits, like fragrant peaches and nectarines, pears, oranges and pineapple cubes. The mix of sweetness and tartness is spot on, and is enhanced by a velvety layer of waxy notes. Then beeswax, honey almond, mild vanilla cake and a suble hint of meadow flowers.
Mouth: still a beautiful fruitiness at its core, now clearly showing apricots, apples, tangerines and mango. Then pineapple cubes again, as well as some syrupy touches and sultanas. Nice viscosity. Mid-palate it shows a mild peppery tinge from the oak, while a light mineral edge appears, balancing the sweetness.
Finish: medium length, on gentle oak, a light toffee / honey combo and some herbal tea.
Really beautiful Glen Grant. Something is happening around the age of 30 for most distilleries, right?Overall a classic old Speyside single malt, including the nice waxy touch. Available from Decadent Drinks or retailers like The Whisky Exchange.
Benriach 33 yo 1991 (55,9%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2024, refill sherry hogshead, 118 btl.)
Nose: starts oily, with plenty of orchard fruits, faint hints of papaya, melons and a spoonful of light honey. Sour plums and peaches, along with light floral notes, perhaps peonies. Then chalky hints, liquorice wood and chamomile (growing stronger rapidly), as well as honeysuckle and shy mineral notes. One of these sherry casks that have little or no sherry at all, except maybe a Fino touch.
Mouth: sweet and fruity, still oily although there’s also a slightly almondy and almost mentholated side that makes it less easy-going. Bananas with grapefruits, yellow plums with elderflower. Lemon peels, making it increasingly zesty over time. Light ginger and roots. Fruitiness with a green edge and even a hint of aspirin in the end.
Finish: medium length, on linden tea, grapefruit and oak.
As much as we’d like to experience it again, this is far from the 1970s profile with the same age. The nose is the nicest part here, on the palate it gets slightly sharper. Taking into account the price, I must admit I had even higher hopes. Available from Decadent Drinks. Score: 89/100