There’s been a good haul of well-aged Society Glen Grants recently – this one has spent some time in a 1st fill PX butt. Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits profile.
Nose: Straight off the bat, this scream ‘big intense sherry’. Incredibly reduced fruits (berries and plums with raisins, sultanas and figs) with tangy balsamic, freshly brewed espresso and rich dark chocolate sauce. There’s plenty of well-integrated wood here – its polished to a mirror sheen, and very fine indeed – ebony, mahogany and rosewood. In the background, sympathetic spicing – wisps of cinnamon and a good pinch of nutmeg. With water, we’re firmly into the run up to Christmas – deep fruit cake, brandy snaps, walnuts and softly smouldering fresh tobacco.
Taste: Intensely sherried – huge dark chocolate covered fruits (plums and damsons) are joined by dusty libraries (old books, leather armchairs) and a cigar box tingle of aromatic spice and tobacco. The development is excellent, moving from deep sweetness through to musty well-aged mature flavours that all feel perfectly in place and cling around the palate. Reduction only serves to heighten the sherried power of this whisky – fruit chews, coffee grounds, liquorice, orange marmalade and pepper.
Finish: Long, sweet with jammy fruits, deep with sherried spice.
2018 has served up plenty of Society bottlings from distillery number 9 - this is up there with the best of them. Whilst being a big bruising sherry-bomb, there’s a wonderful balance and vibrancy here. Cracking.
Score: 88/100