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12th December 2023 |
Whisky
Advocate names the outstanding
Glenglassaugh Sandend as its
'Whisky of the Year 2023'.
 Glenglassaugh Sandend which was crafted
by Master Blender Rachel Barrie and
unveiled in June this year has clinched
the top spot in Whisky Advocate’s
esteemed Top 20 Whiskies of the Year
through an overwhelmingly positive
consensus.
Drawing inspiration from the serene
crescent shores of Sandend Bay, which
lie adjacent to the distillery, this
whisky is a combination of spirit
matured in bourbon, sherry, and
manzanilla casks. Its profile evokes
luxurious hints of tropical sweetness
entwined with a subtle touch of sea
salt. Capturing the essence of
Glenglassaugh's coastal character, this
creative single malt is said to be a
testament to the interplay between the
surrounding landscape, the rolling
Portsoy farmlands, and the captivating
views of the North Sea at Sandend. These
elements form the core essence of the
Glenglassaugh Single Malt.
For over two decades, the Glenglassaugh
Distillery remained dormant, a hidden
jewel nestled along Scotland’s rugged
northeastern coastline, until its
revival in 2008. Earlier this year,
Master Blender Rachel Barrie unveiled a
fresh portfolio and a reimagined design
direction, drawing inspiration from the
breathtaking natural beauty that
surrounds the distillery.
Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at
Glenglassaugh Distillery, said:
"Glenglassaugh’s spirit is inspired by
the truly unique coastal location. A sip
of Sandend awakens the senses,
transporting you to the north east coast
where our warehouses stand against the
elements. On the nose, soft, sweet
vanilla is drenched in tropical fruit,
with chocolate and a touch of sea salt
whilst waves of salted-caramel with a
burst of pineapple, cherry and
grapefruit awaken the palette.
"Receiving this accolade, and joining
such an illustrious list of previous
winning expressions, and indeed runners
up, cements our place at the table
amongst industry giants. Next year we
will be bottling a number of historic
releases, dating back to the 60s and
70s, which is incredibly exciting."
With an extensive 30-year tenure in the
whisky industry, Master Blender Rachel
Barrie has steered Brown-Forman’s Scotch
Single Malt Whisky portfolio to a series
of triumphs in the last six years. Among
these successes, Glendronach Cask
Strength Batch 12 secured the esteemed
tenth position in this year's line-up,
following in the footsteps of
Glendronach Portwood Single Malt (2021)
and Benriach The Smoky 12 (2020), both
previously lauded in Whisky Advocate’s
'most exciting whiskies of the year'
selection.
Whisky Advocate's annual Top 20
selection involves the meticulous
sampling of hundreds of exceptional
whisk(e)ys, assessing them based on
quality, value, and availability. The
chosen Top 20 whiskies are a carefully
curated assortment that are deemed
noteworthy and deserving of recognition.
You will find my thoughts on the
outstanding Glenglassaugh Sandend below
and if you want to get hold of a bottle
it has a RRP of £55
and is available from
specialist online whisky shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
|
Glenglassaugh Sandend Review
|
Bottled at 50.5% ABV.
William
Morrison's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An
enticing nose of sweet vanilla fudge, a
touch of coconut and a fruity mix of
apple, fresh pear and a hint of
pineapple.
Taste: Vanilla
fudge with a wee bit of a salted edge
leads closely followed by a delicious
barley sugared pineapple sweetness, the
touch of coconut from the nose is still
there also and a lovely touch of late
oak spice.
Finish: A
longish length finish, the vanilla,
pineapple, barley sugars and coconut
tussle it out before bowing out to leave
the now slightly spicy and mildly drying
oak to have the final word.
Comment:
I would say the bourbon cask in the mix
here is the predominant contributor, and
it has worked very well indeed, the
delicious vanilla fudge, pineapple,
barley sugars and oak grow with each
mouthful, simply a delicious dram and an
ideal whisky if you are looking for
something new to pour and the flavoursome bottling
strength of 50.5% simply adds to the
pleasure.
SMW Whisky Score
91/100
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