For the 2024 Special Releases Diageo looked at Glen Ord again. In recent years Glendullan and Glen Ord seem to alternate. A parcel of bourbon casks was re-racked to specially coopered casks that had heavily charred European oak cask ends (Pyrenean and Spanish oak).
The Singleton of Glen Ord 14 yo ‘Autumn Walk’ (54,7%, OB Special Releases 2024, charred cask ends finish)
Nose: sweet and rather candied, with vibrant fruity notes of peach and pineapple, with hints of grape and cherry underneath. Then the charred woody side comes out, with hints of ginger and fresh oak shavings, along with a hint of toffee. Faint leather and grassy elements in the background. A pleasant sourness cuts through the woody sweetness after a while.
Mouth: sweet and woody still. In fact the grassy oak, pepper and ginger are quite loud. Sweet lemons appear, with orange peels and a drop of herbal honey. Then more youngish wood starts to come forward. Vanilla custard and toffee as well. Leather and liquorice in the end.
Finish: fairly long, getting drier, always showing that young oaky profile. Plenty of citrus peels and ginger.
While this Glen Ord shows a vibrant sweetness, there’s also a rougher side and plain wood getting in the way. Scotch for bourbon drinkers or fans of toasted virgin wood, perhaps. Available from plenty of retailers like The Whisky Exchange or Royal Mile Whiskies.