Distilled in August 2007 and matured for 11 years in a 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead. View on SMWS
Nose: Strawberries and cranberries are up first – ripe and warming. They’re accompanied by stewed apples and poached pears with everything given a dusting of peach sherbet powder. In the background, grassiness – freshly cut lawn and hay with sunflowers and a crumbling of caramelised white chocolate. The addition of water introduces soft orchard fruit peels – sugary and garden-fresh alongside pancakes with a drizzle of fresh lemon.
Taste: An oily arrival with some bold impact – citrus and tartness from grapefruits, lemon peels and curd. This develops through malty biscuits and chocolate before moving caskwards with building pepper and anise spicing. With water – an interesting steeliness – sharp wet metals, aluminium and mild chalkiness.
Finish: Fairly long and oak-focussed – pepper with a well-judged dryness.
A well-named bottling that presents a well-judged combination of expressive spirit with focussed fresh fruits. This Glen Ord stands out for its liveliness, but at the same time, it’s a highly amenable dram that would serve as a good opener no matter the occasion.
Score: 85/100