Glengoyne’s OBs are famous for their sherry-led flavours, but this 2008 9 year old SMWS bottling comes from a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel. Juicy, Oak & Vanilla profile.
Nose: Garden-fresh with clean cotton sheets, honeycomb and creamy coconut. Aromas of beehives mix with green herbalness – heather and cut stems. These sit alongside creamy vanilla fudge and a gentle touch of orange peel. The addition of water brings out underlying maltiness – oats, cereals and biscuits.
Taste: A viscous arrival packed full of sweetness, but still with quite a lot of alcoholic bite. Honey drenched digestive biscuits, cream buns and vanilla pods are joined by interesting herbs (nettles and tea), ginger spicing and a scattering of jelly babies. Reduction, brought a softer arrival with plenty of tinned orchard fruits, fizzing sherbet sweets and a touch of pepperiness.
Finish: Medium, with tart citrus and further pepperiness.
There’s plenty of crisp and clean flavour in this characterful 9 year old Glengoyne, but without dilution, it’s coming at you rather hot and prickly. Once reduced, the emphasis can shift onto the well-judged sweet fruitiness and perky spicing. A good starter to an autumnal evening.