Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic

Using smaller casks is sort of a trend. As distilleries want to release younger malts, they are looking for ways to get more flavour in less time. Laphroaig started using quarter casks at a time when NAS was not yet a thing, and last week we reviewed the BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks.

Now we’re trying Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic, the non-peated version of their Octaves casks matured product.

Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic
(44%, OB 2016)

Nose: very fruity and sherbety, lots of candy apples, pears, glucose, oranges and vanilla. The vanilla evolves to more grassy notes and pencil shavings. Ginger, cinnamon and white pepper. Light chalky notes. Tomato stems.

Mouth: honeyed and creamy. Plenty of citrus notes, lemonade, with the same peppery hints and a green oak feel to it. Sweet barley. Cinnamon cake. Apples and pears again. Some toasted notes as well.

Finish: medium long, rather spicy (pepper), alongside barley, vanilla and bittersweet oaky touches.

This is indeed a youngish Glenglassaugh, yet with a clear oaky side. The nice fruity spirit and the overall freshness make up for most of its youth. A nice dram but the price is a bit too high in my opinion. Around € 70.

Score: 82/100