Following a sampling of Glen Garioch whiskies with a decade of maturation between them (1978-1989), Milroy’s of Soho (which is always worth a visit) selected the oldest single cask from their cask tasting session to bottled as a store exclusive back in 2012. The chosen cask (#10999) produced only 146 bottles at 58.8% ABV and was sold at the time for £300.
This well-aged Glen Garioch was selected by The Whisky Shop as an exclusive bottling in 2011. It was drawn from cask #11,000 (described as North American oak – so we’re assuming straight-forward ex-bourbon), which produced 187 bottles at 54.2% ABV.
Even the most superficial of look-backs into the history of whisky will reveal a remarkable, constantly alterable spirit diversity - and this should serve as a reminder that there is no end point for whisky style and no ultimate manifestation of whisky evolution. Whisky changes. Whisky *needs* to change.
The Solstice was on 21st June – it’s now the 11th October, so I’m way past my sell-by-date on this one. Nevertheless, the bottle is still available via the Decadent Drinks website for £85. Two 1st fill barrels of 2011 Glen Garioch have been combined to create this edition of Equinox and Solstice. Bottling – as always for this series – is at 48.5% ABV.
Underappreciated Glen Garioch gets a look in for Whisky Sponge Edition 37 and a 31 year old that has been matured in a refill hogshead that produced 201 bottles at 53.9% ABV.
It has been over a decade since SMWS bottled Glen Garioch – so this month’s 19 is indeed a special treat. Matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel for 18 years and clocking in at a still reasonable intense 58.3% ABV.