Day 22. The end is rapidly approaching but that dose not mean that the tasty hits are not still rolling. Dig in and enjoy
GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
It runs a combination of long (and very long) fermentations, while distillation in its three stills (one wash, two spirit) is extremely slow. All of the stills have boil bulbs, which increases the amount of copper availability, while the gentle heating of the wash and spirit also helps to maximise the amount of time the alcohol vapour can play with the copper. This maximising of reflux produces a gentle, sweet, and fruity new make.
There is however sufficient weight in the spirit to be able to balance with maturation in ex-Sherry butts – a signature of Edrington’s distilleries – which has been retained by Ian MacLeod.
History
A distillery has stood on this site since 1833, when the Edmonstone family (the main landowner of the area) began production, passing control to the MacLelland family in the 1850s who, in turn, sold it to the Glasgow-based blender Lang Bros in 1876. It was they who changed the distillery’s original name, Burnfoot, to Glen Guin which was anglicised to Glengoyne in 1905.
It played a vital role within Lang Brothers’ blends [the best known being Supreme] and those of Robertson & Baxter (now Edrington). The latter firm bought Lang Brothers. in 1965.
Single malt bottlings began in the early 1990s, when Glengoyne was sold as ‘the unpeated malt’, while much was also made of the fact that, geographically, the distillery is in the Highlands while its warehouses, directly across the road, are in the Lowlands.
Edrington considered it surplus to its requirements in 2003, selling it to Ian MacLeod for £7.2m. Its new owner has subsequently (and successfully) focused on developing the brand as a single malt and the distillery as a multifunctional tourist destination. It now gets in excess of 50,000 visitors a year.
Tasting Notes
Nose: some earthy tones, wet leaves and malt with vanilla and some dried dark fruits; cinnamon infused chocolates and candied orange with some floral notes.
Taste: very creamy, soft and floral with loads of spices, some tobacco and chocolates; leathery with soft malt and candied orange.
FInish: long and leathery with fading vanilla, orange and clove.
Purchase Links
Can be purchased at Tudor house