Whisky Focus - Clan Denny Girvan 20 Year Old 1993 Single Grain Whisky Review

Review of Douglas Laing's Clan Denny Girvan 20 Year Old 1993 Single Grain Single Cask whisky by Murray Cohen.

I had the opportunity to pick up this independent bottling of Girvan single grain single cask whisky while visiting relatives in Montreal, Quebec. Matured in a single refill barrel Cask DH 10439, this one was bottled at 56.7% ABV under Glasgow based independent bottler Douglas Laing's Clan Denny Aged Grains Douglas Hamilton Co. label.

The growing interest in Scottish single grain whisky is becoming something of a phenomenon and gleaning interest from a variety of whisky drinkers. Girvan is a lowland grain whisky distillery located in South Ayrshire, Scotland and owned by William Grant & Sons. I highly recommend this single grain offering.

Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:

Colour: Pure Gold.

Nose: Burnt orange melding into caramelized Vidalia sweet onion impress immediately. Whirling smoke is infused with white truffles. There is a distinct aroma of "gribenes", i.e., crisp chicken skin cracklings with fried onions. The latter put a smile on my face as it was a favorite of mine a half a century ago in my mother’s kitchen. A bucket of Southern fried chicken awakens. Late dark toffee and hazelnut fudge, the sweetness just oozes out. A burst of Canadian maple syrup makes an olfactory appearance.

Taste: Legs like a pitchfork signal the full-bodied texture. Mouth-filling, vanilla coats the palate with a layering of spice. There is a honey undertow with earthy accents.

Finish: Long, toffee sandwiched with fine molasses forms a great tag team with a return of caramelized onions; the congealed sweetness is hypnotizing.

With Water: A few drops of water bring some pistachio notes on the nose as well as BBQ & smoked Pacific salmon. The water awakens the spice in dramatic fashion. Perseveration of spice and some oak tannin on the finish. The water actually dissolves the desirable sweetness. You might want this one “neat”.

Comment: This single grain pulls out all the stops. It’s like experiencing a recipe cookbook from a number of regions of cuisine especially on the nose. This 20 year old shows a level of maturity releasing some pretty intense aromas and flavors many funnelled into unique food groups.

Score 94/100

You can find the full current Douglas Laing whisky range available from specialist Whisky retailers such as Master of Malt
 

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