Glen Garioch 18 Year (SMWS 19.64 "Sweet Moment")

 

This is the second of three 18 year old bottles released by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") as part of their deep dive into Glen Garioch, a relatively unknown Highland distillery. A lot of the reason I stay involved with the SMWS is access to things exactly like this - very difficult to source otherwise, an older bottling from a little known distiller. This bottle is sorted in to the "sweet, fruity, and mellow" category.

Here are the official notes:

A wonderful, floral aroma with those citrusy overtones one finds in orange blossom essential oil combined with the dry woody as well as sweet hay and barn yard nuances made this a fascinating nosing dram.  The taste was equally impressive, thick cut marmalade, lemon vanilla custard slices, chocolate almond butter bars and Gulab jamun. After the addition of water remained very elegant, buttered croissants, apple turnover, marzipan, lime zest and maple syrup on fluffy American pancakes. Syrupy and spongy on the palate like Anton Berg delicate biscuits with an apricot jam centre and marzipan soaked in brandy and finally covered in a thick coating of dark chocolate.

Oooooh! I like encountering orange blossom flavors, and the rest sounds very attractive - especially the barnyard combined with citrus and sweet, which is often something I get from (unpeated) Bruichladdich in particular. Botted at 57.9% ABV, let's investigate:

Nose: This is interesting when compared against the other two Glen Garioch 18 year bottles because it's simultaneously recognizable on some level, but distinctly different as well. 

I get: orange cookies. Big orange floral notes (like orange oil you use as a household fragrance) tied to sweet vanilla cookies. A lovely, *lovely* black tea note - like sweetened Earl Grey. I guess the nexus of those two is bergamot. Along with those: sweet oak, dry straw, and light-but-rich orchard fruit (apple/pear). 

With a touch of water: Same notes, but with pastry and maple syrup added in. The maple note is totally unexpected, but wonderful! Also a light dusty/dunnage note. 

Mouthfeel: Thicker, oily.

Palate: As with the other 18 year Glen Gariochs, this has a big, bold palate that really takes over the show. Orange jam or marmalade is, indeed, the dominant flavor. It's followed by black tea, sweet custard, chocolate bars, and rose water. Just a lovely orchestra of flavors at play here. Very very pleasant sipper. 

With water: A nice brandy note hovers in the background, along with fresh farm butter, but otherwise very similar: orange, tea, vanilla, chocolate, flowers. 

Finish: Surprisingly dry, oaky finish, but remains sweet and floral as well. Citrus and a cherry note also come through. Bitter tea remnants as well. 

Verdict: Well, damn. Orange and tea and rose and vanilla for days and days and days. This is enormously pleasant to drink, and - as noted - weirdly both distinct from and similar to the other Glen Garioch sister casks. I like this a lot, and would easily recommend to any whisky drinker if they encounter it. Really showcases the wild, wide set of flavors present in scotch!