Yes, the name is a real mouthful: Glengoyne The Legacy Series Chapter One 2019. Glengoyne is a very old distillery ("Unhurried since 1833" the bottle and packaging proudly says), but very new to me. One of the bottles I tend to overlook as my hand drifts around the shelving. However, perhaps it's time to rectify this; thanks much to Rob Martin for this bottle!
The Legacy Series highlights aspects of their distilling process they are particularly proud of; it currently stands at Chapter Two (as of May 2021), and this bottle of Chapter One obviously dates to 2019. It is No Age Statement, Un-chill-filtered, but the bottle doesn't say anything about coloring.
It's matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks and refill bourbon casks. Estimated age is around 9-12 years, the internet reports; I would guess closer to the nine year mark. Bottled at a pleasing 48%. Let's see how this slow distillation process they pride themselves on comes through...
Nose: Rich sherry shines through immediately, married to very rich Bourbon/Madagascar vanilla from the bourbon casks. Definitely high quality casks are being used here - and with a particularly successful merger of the two flavor profiles. There is a lot of rich fruit here as well - apples, pears, lemons, along with drips of honey. Quite decent - I think like this more than the Bunnahabhain 12 Year I just reviewed, which was more sherry-drenched. Quite balanced nose, full of flavor. After some time in the glass, or a touch of water, and an interesting balsamic note comes out: a sour sherry element.
Mouthfeel: A bit on the thin side, but oily and silky in a pleasant way.
Palate: Orange, nutty toffee, chocolate, ginger, apples, vanilla, lots of honey, a little alcohol bite, some oak wood, dried red fruit. Everything you would expect, given the nose and the provenance. Again, very balanced, and very pleasant. Scarily drinkable, despite the higher ABV. Some raw cinnamon and cloves come through in time. It comes across as a little young, perhaps, but in a lively, boisterous way - full of life and verve. With time or water, the cinnamon really comes forward.
Finish: Oak and pepper and vanilla are the bulk of the finish. Some really nice light smoke appears at the very tail end.
Verdict: I quite like this - I will seek out Chapter Two, which is first fill bourbon casks and refill sherry. The higher alcohol content really helps buoy the flavors and intensify them. It's quite sweet - could almost be served with dessert - but then the oak and pepper cut through the finish, along with that haze of smoke. Just nicely balanced from start to finish. A win and pride-point for Glengoyne.
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