Each year on Black Friday twe anticipate the limited edition from The Whisky Exchange. Check my review of the 2022 edition which was the first Islay release in the series. This year there’s another primeur: the first Lowlands single malt.
Black Friday 2023 is a 15 year old Glenkinchie, matured in a mix of both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. That would mean it is more complex than what we’re usually getting from this distillery, so don’t judge it by its name.
Lowlands Single Malt 15 yo ‘Black Friday’ (54,2%, The Whisky Exchange 2023)
Nose: I pick up some Irish vibes at first. Orchard fruits like apples and tinned peaches, alongside grassy and bready notes. Then some yellow flowers and rose petals come out. While it started in a rather heady way, it gains weight and gets more candied over time. Lemon candy, hints of hay, refreshing crushed mint leaves too. A light varnished touch and mildly peppery sawdust appears in the end.
Mouth: still quite fruity, now full of limes, green apples and oranges. Hints of sweet, buttery dough – almost Panettone time, right? Lemon tartlets with meringue topping. Subtle white pepper hides in the background. Then it goes more towards golden raisin sweetness and light waxy notes, mixing with candied ginger, nectarines, almonds and lemon zest.
Finish: good length, returning to grassy notes, toasted oak and plenty of lemons.
You don’t often see independent bottlings from Glenkinchie, and a 15 year old at cask strength is especially rare. As someone who is generally not the biggest fan of this region, I can tell you it’s good whisky. It is balanced by the mild sherry, overcoming the typical Lowlands austerity. An unexpected addition to the series, but as always the price is fair.
Now available from The Whisky Exchange. I’m curious to see how many people will be convinced of a name like Glenkinchie. TWE is also selling a combination of the 2022 and 2023 releases, in case you’re interested.