Glenlossie 11 Year (SMWS 46.128 "Lotta Good Stuff")

 

I have a theory that the fancier and more involved a nickname the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") gives a whisky, the better that whisky is. For example, the 30-year Macallan is "A Wizard's Poem" (wow) .... this poor Glenlossie - while not a bad whisky - got the short end of the stick: "Lotta Good Stuff." Gee, thanks, naming committee. The only name that could have less effort put in would be "A Whisky." 

Glenlossie is owned by beverage giant Diageo, and is located in Elgin directly next to Mannochmore. It's used in the Haig blends, apparently, and is considered a very good blending whisky. I sampled this bottled at the March 2023 SMWS outturn event at Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC.  

Here are the official notes: 

Turkish delight made with rosewater, bergamot orange and mastic as well as a Cajun seasoning rub with rosemary, oregano, caraway seeds and turmeric – “lotta good stuff!” Feisty on the palate neat, roasted strawberry bavarois with spicy dandelion and burdock jelly. Following reduction, the aroma was that of grilled summer vegetables with a honey balsamic dressing and apricot custard Danish pastry while to taste melon and prosciutto di Parma skewers, pastel de nata as well as roasted pears with chai spiced crème anglaise. After nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a 1st fill toasted Caucasian oak barrique with toasted heads.

Cajun seasoning rub! Honey balsamic dressing!? Well, damn. This was aged 11 years in a special cask: a first-fill toasted Caucasian oak barrique, with toasted heads, and  bottled at 54.5% ABV. Here are my notes:

Nose: Butter, ginger, must/dust and dunnage, white grapes, gummi bears. Nice, interesting, sharp and creamy both.

Mouthfeel: Medium. 

Palate: Juicy orchard fruits, freshly squeezed... sawn oak, alcohol burn, pepper, strawberries. 

Finish: Oak, vanilla, lingering caramel. 

Verdict: I liked but didn't adore this. Completely competent in every way, and still yards better than most official bottlings out there, but a little raw, a little unbalanced or unintegrated, a little shallow. Not bad by any stretch, but not exactly special either. Totally middle of the road.