The line between Dumbarton and Stirling is the line which separates the highlands and the low lands. On A81, Strathblane Road – about 50kms North of Glasgow – lies Glengoyne distillery. The distillery itself lies in the highlands, but the barrel houses are actually across the road in the low lands. The demarcation is based on distillation rather than ageing, so Glengoyne is classified as a highland whisky. This month we sample the Glengoyne 12 year old.
Glengoyne’s major point of difference is that they do not peat their whisky at all, preferring to only use air to dry their barley (as opposed to the normal method of burning peat to dry the barley). The real taste of malt is not confused by peat flavours. It certainly works – producing a rich flavoursome whisky, bursting with malty goodness and lovely Christmas cake undertones. The spirit is very clean and beautifully balanced. It is a very enjoyable and drinkable whisky with some citrus notes.
This particular edition of the Glengoyne 12 year old is in the original packaging distinct from what is available through the major retail chains.
DISTILLERS NOTES
Bottle Size : 700ml
ABV : 46.5% abv
Region : Scotland – Highland
Peated : No
Lemon zest, toffee apples – and a scent of coconut. Hand-selected sherry casks help create this paradise of flavours and rich, golden colour. It’s the taste of Scotland’s slowest distillation, and our insistence on barley dried by air – never peat.
