Glen Keith /
GlenIsla
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Glen
Keith
distillery was founded as late as 1957 with
building work being finished and the distillery beginning
production in 1960. It lies on the river Isla very close to
Strathisla distillery in Keith, Banffshire, Speyside.
It
was built by Seagram (Pernod Ricard since 2001) but sadly,
they mothballed the distillery in 1999 after a short life of
less than 40 years of production.
Glen
Keith has been renovated and expanded to produce 6m lpa p/a
and reopened in June 2013 |
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Most
of single malt output from Glen Keith was indeed bottled as "Glen Keith", however, some
slightly peated expressions were released as "Glenisla",
although there is some discussion and confusion about this label.
Glenisla was
a slightly peated expression produced at the Glen Keith Distillery. |
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Glen
Keith |
General whisky characteristics: Fruit and wild flowers |
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Glen Keith,
21y,
distilled 1967
This was a sample
I was given without exact bottler details, but it could have
been the G&M bottling
Typical cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass:
Spiegelau
Nose:
This is so intense, the Spiegelau glass is working wonders
compared to the Bugatti, Signatory or even the Glencairn. The
nose is extremely complex with a mixture of fruit and wild
flowers and maybe some apricot, slight marzipan, a little gentle
toffee, or is it butterscotch? There are also some alpine herbs
and flowers in there amongst the Scottish moss and heather. The
more I nose, the more I now begin to find an extra dimension
which is almost medicinal. Not in a Laphroaig kind of way, but
slightly more gentle. Oh boy, I could sit here nosing this for a
day or two, this is so good! Perhaps the only thing in my
experience which has come close to this was a wonderful Rosebank
many years ago.
Palate:
The first sip concentrates the herbs on the front of the tongue
whilst the sides of the tongue and inner cheeks water with
delight. The initial flavour is of herbs with slight spice in an
almond / marzipan kind of way. This is smooth, very smooth and
offers lots of palatable luxury which almost spreads into a
cream toffee flavour over time. My second taste develops much
more of the martzipan and toffee flavours and no herbs at all.
In fact, the more I think about this, the more I think of nuts!
Amazing, the flavours are intense and concentrate almost
exclusively on the front and middle of the palate, leaving the
back almost completely clear.
Finish: Long, very long
and very pleasant with plenty of nut and toffee flavours. This
does have a strong taste, but in an extremely kind and gentle
way.
With
2 drops of water: The nose finds another dimension. The
herbs have receded and are replaced by slightly medicinal
hazelnuts in a bed of fresh straw. The 2 drops of water have
also transformed the flavour in a way that I would never have
expected as It becomes even more smooth and creamy, losing some
of the potency of the nuttiness.
Overall Impression:
This is
a true great. I would have to say it is one of the best 5 or 6
whiskies I have ever tried. OK, so my own experience is limited,
but I can recognise a great when I try it and this is one of
them. Do I prefer it with the drops of water, maybe I do. But
either way, I want more of this and I feel I just may be
disappointed as if I find any, it may be just too expensive for
my pocket. It's a good job I have another sample to revisit
later. |
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Malts
of Scotland, Glen
Keith,
28.9.1970-2.2011,
49.1% ABV
Bourbon
Hogshead
Cask
No.6042, one of 192 bottles
Typical cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour: Shiny
(yellow) gold
Nose:
Extremely floral oak which just keeps on expanding. Yes, this is
very very aromatic and eventually offers hints of malty
butterscotch amongst the flora. Maybe even a touch of baked
apple and banana too?
Palate:
Bitter
- sweet? I detect a slightly bitter fruitiness alongside sweet
flora, chocolate, a hint of coffee beans and some vanilla.
Finish: Long and bitter
sweet.
Overall Impression:
Interesting, very interesting with those bitter - sweet
qualities. |
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A.D.Rattray, Glen
Keith,
55.4%
ABV
Bourbon
Hogshead
Original
cost of this bottle; Unknown
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour: Very pale yellow
Nose:
Initial suggestion of vanilla soon leads into a very mild hint
of new shoes (or trainers) with shoe leather or maybe even
rubber soles but this is extremely faint and in the background.
Then follows another faint suggestion of burning, perhaps
bonfire or BBQ embers.
Palate:
This
starts with a very smooth, creamy mouth-feel, then as it expands
across the palate it gets richer with suggestions of banana,
freshly baked breaad or even pancake.
Finish: Long with that
creamy vanilla-ness.
Overall Impression:
Full
of mild and mellow richness. I really like this one.
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Glenisla |
General whisky characteristics: Wood, hay, grasses, slightly
farmy |
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Glenisla,
28y, 1977,
48.8% ABV
Signatory "Cask
Strength" collection, one of 276 bottles
Single Cask;
Hogshead 19601, distilled 7.7.77, bottled 29.3.2006
Typical cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour: Pale
(yellow) gold
Nose:
Initially very
faint, then slowly building to include hay and grasses. This
continues to 'grow' and intensify over some minutes. Eventually
it exhibits some farmy notes, but mostly reminiscent of a
chicken coop or free-range hen run.
Palate:
Some green
peppercorn, faintly nutty, slightly farmy with grasses alongside
a hint of wood.
With 4 drops of water: Now a more rounded nose with grasses and nuts, but
still lightly farmy. The palate is smoother with less pepper,
but still containing nuts and hay. Very warming.
With
4 more drops of water: An even more rounded nose with a
great waft of toast or maybe even crumpets.
Finish: Medium,
slightly longer with water. Some raspberries right at the end
when water is added.
Overall Impression:
This is sligthly farmy with an initial
'chicken coop' nose but it's still very interesting and
certainly not a bad whisky, although it isn't a 'great' either.
Slightly better with the water added. |
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