Ask a seemingly simple question - get a series of ill-informed answers. The Internet is awash with experts no matter the topic. “Whisky is always at its best at 18-20 years of age, except Ardbeg – I love Ardbeg 10 year old.” Says the chap who manages to contradict himself within 10 words. “I never drink Scotch less than 12 years of age” drones the young lad who’s clearly but a few years older than suggested ideal tipple. Or, my personal favourite – “Best age to drink whisky at? I never really liked it in my late teens and twenties, so I’d say around 35”. The question of age is woven tightly into the very fabric of whisky – there’s a psychology behind the appeal of bigger numbers – and for years the market has been continually educated that older equals better. But in reality, age is not only a diverse and idiosyncratic topic, it’s also highly personal.
Direct Wine’s ‘First Cask’ series, which ran through the 1990’s and several years beyond the Millennium is both an extensive hodgepodge of bottlings, and a treasure trove of undiscovered gems. Using stock sourced from independent bottler Signatory, Direct Wines bottled hundreds upon hundreds of First Cask whiskies for their members club the ‘First Cask Whisky Circle’. Released quarterly, bottles were sold to members in mixed cases – in effect a whisky lucky dip.
More red wine this month with this 20 year old Glenlossie matured for 19 years in a refill hogshead then re-racked into a 2nd fill charred barrique. Old & dignified profile.
Another welcome appearance of distillery #46 (there’s two this month) in the form of a 21 year old drawn from a 2nd fill toasted hogshead.
A 24 year old Glenlossie filled on 17th November 1992. It was matured for 23 years in an ex-Bourbon barrel and then transferred over to a new oak hogshead for another year of maturation. One of 234 bottles. Sweet, Fruity & Mellow flavour profile.
Over to Speyside for a 24 year old Glenlosssie drawn from a single refill ex-bourbon hogshead. Spicy & Dry profile.
Well-aged and well-priced (£121.20) Glenlossie that’s been maturing in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead since November 1992. I’m expecting good things. View on SMWS
Well-aged Glenlossie is always on my lgo-to list. This 25 year old was laid down in November 1992 in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.
Well-aged Glenlossie - sign me right up. 26 years in refill ex-bourbon for this release.
I’ve a lot of time for well-aged Glenlossie. This example has spent 26 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being re-casked into a 1still fill Spanish oak PX cask for some additional maturation.
Moving closer towards the finale of the Boutique-y 2017 Advent calendar and today we’re off to Elgin in Speyside for a 17 year old Glenlossie. The distillery’s stills have several recognisable features – they’re onion shaped, fitted with purifier pipes and heated through direct fire – our Boutique-y label highlights all of these elements...using onions of course!