Glen Elgin 2011 100 Proof Edition #82 14 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the very latest release in the 100 Proof series. That brings the total to 82 bottlings in just two and a half years, as the series was launched in January 2024. I’d stopped tasting them after Batch 39, but I’ve decided to get back into it and I’m way behind. This one has undergone a fairly long maturation period of 14 years, the last part of which was spent in Oloroso sherry butts. However, we don’t know how long this finish lasted, we don’t know what the initial maturation was, and we don’t know how many bottles were produced either. They do, however, deign to inform us that it is non-chill-filtered and uncoloured. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An alluring drizzle of sherry, raspberry and cherry, then it balances out, generously waxed exotic wood, chestnut cream, varnish, dried bananas and figs. Mineral notes, crisp caramel, small cooked mushrooms, milk cap. On the palate, Reine-Claude plum jam, treacle, burnt butter, dark chocolate, it is very oaky and spicy, cloves, cumin, nutmeg. A rather intense but not very long finish, chicory, toffee, chocolate fondant, liquorice and chlorophyll. A hint of citrus zest, bark. 

 

In Short, 

I really did like the nose, a lovely expression of sherry, underpinned by elegant oak and a few mineral notes typical of the distillery. On the other hand, it’s less interesting on the palate and in the finish, it’s more aggressive, the cask is too prominent, and the result is a lot of spice. But then, perhaps it will mellow a bit after a few weeks or months once opened. So, a mixed result, but the flaws are made up for by its impressive strength. Given the low price, why not give it a go if you’re a fan of the distillery, though you might well be disappointed. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Wooden Shjips - Back To Land

Glen Elgin 2007 A Single Cask Collection : Crafted in Cask 18 yo

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Hogshead and Moscatel Wine Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This one matured in a simple hogshead before being transferred to an Ex Moscatel cask, which is a sweet white wine from Portugal or southern Spain. This finishing process lasted at least three years, which is a long time. The result is now counting 162 bottles still available here and there. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody and fresh nose, full of sweet fruit, brown sugar and nuts. Vanilla cream, candied apples, almond paste, dates, blood oranges, lemon slices, apricot jam. Honey and a few floral notes. It's pleasant on the palate, but a little drying, with dried fruit and nuts coming to the fore. Oak bark, nutmeg, cloves. Raisins, candied ginger. Long and powerful finish with hints of red fruit, cinnamon, roots, spices and a very slight woody bitterness. Drops of wax, treacle, maple syrup. 

 

In Short, 

It's very pleasant, but I don't detect the distillery's slightly mineral profile. That said, it's very well made, a blend of sweetness and dried fruit, wood and vanilla, culminating in a relatively smooth finish. If you look hard enough, you can find it at an attractive price. 

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Gaia Banfi - Congelati

Glen Elgin-Glenlivet 2009 Cadenhead Original Collection 13 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Bourbon Casks and Manzanilla Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This Glen Elgin first spent 12 years in Bourbon casks, then, in March 2022, the liquid was transferred to Manzanilla Sherry casks, for an 18-month finish. It's a dry white sherry from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, produced with the Palomino grape. I'm curious about the result. 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite dry sherry, more on almonds, light vanilla, custard and apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon, an ounce of citrus. Fruity pulp, tropical scents, wild strawberries. Light woodiness, rosewood, orange peel. On the palate, the wood is more intense, damp bark, wild berries, peppermint, it's a little oily, with herbal notes. The spices gradually rise, black pepper, cumin. Quite a long finish, spicy, woody, clove, dried fruit, dates, figs, milk chocolate, vergeoise. Pastry cream.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad, but it's too discreet, unremarkable. I have the feeling that the Sherry casks have erased the already light character of the distillery, but as it's a dry Sherry, it hasn't really influenced the whisky. As a result, although it's not bad, and is even pleasant to drink, it's not very interesting. The price is quite low, but even so, I'm not sure I'd recommend buying it.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Rosali - Rewind

Glen Elgin 12 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Bourbon American Oak and Sherry European Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2003

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Glen Elgin is a distillery that produces mainly for blends, in particular White Horse, and this 12-year-old is the only expression in the Core Range. This one apparently dates from 2003, and was previously subtitled Single Pot Still Malt Whisky, which is an aberration in the whisky world, either it's Single Malt or Single Pot Still, but both at the same time is impossible. Even before that, this 12 yo was included in Diageo's Flora & Fauna range, and was even part of the Hidden Malts range for a short time. And long before that, in the 70s, 80s and 90s, it was subtitled Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, which again is an aberration, since it is a Speyside. As the distillery only began steaming its malt in 1970, the whisky was apparently peaty until the early 1980s. Today, it is still very lightly peated, but also chill-filtered and coloured, unfortunately.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Evanescent lemon, light vanilla, a mineral and chalky touch. Yellow apples and sweet butter, crushed almonds. A hint of salty smoke. Soft caramel, beeswax, cereal grains. Whipped cream. On the palate, the honey and cereals become more intense, candied lemon, fresh fruit salad, orchard fruits in particular, malty notes, very discreet spices, but all this lacks a little fullness. A pleasant finish, with oak bark, roasted almonds, a pinch of cinnamon, ginger and vanilla.

 

In Short, 

I have to say that this is a distillery that I like. And here I find the elements I've liked in other bottlings, the mineral and salty touch, this varied fruitiness and the typical Speyside honey. Unfortunately, it's a little light on the palate, otherwise it would make a good dram. This one's not bad, even interesting.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Samane - Two Wrongs                                    

SMWS 2007 85.89 Worm Tub Magic Artist #13 SMWS 40th Anniversary 15 yo

 

 

 

58,9° 

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It's still the birthday party for Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the trading company founded by Pip Hills in 1983. And the second bottling in the series of 5 commemorating this event in the Artist #13 range launched by La Maison du Whisky is this 15-year-old Glen Elgin, aged in an Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. 234 bottles were produced, all featuring Claire Barclay's artwork entitled New View 2.

Let's Taste It : 

Nose with a certain minerality, and well done, with beeswax and maple syrup, fine oak, some vinous notes, yellow fruit, apricots, quinces, caramel and liquorice. Tightly wound strings, sharp leather. On the palate, as woody as ever, oak bark set with a little moss, dried figs and dates, toffee, cooked butter, harmonious spices, pepper, cinnamon. The finish is long and well-crafted, with hints of chocolate and liquorice, sandalwood, ginger, blood orange and Chasselas grapes.

 

In Short, 

Magnificently well-crafted, some of the distillery's hallmarks can be found despite the pervasive influence of Oloroso. It just lacks a little explosiveness in the finish to make it great. Here, it's just very good, but it will delight enthusiasts. The price, however, is outrageous, which is a shame.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Five Dollar Sugar - Bad Bad Girl

Glen Elgin 2010 The Cooper's Choice 12 yo

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

American Bourbon Cask and Madeira Finish

Independent Bottling 

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, finishing in wine casks is commonplace. I would have liked to know how long this second maturation took, but no. There are three casks of Glen Elgin bottled in the Cooper's Choice range, the first was finished in a Sauternes cask, the second in a Marsala cask, and finally the third, this one, in a Madeira cask. It might be interesting to make a comparison of the three. In any case, 300 bottles have been extracted from this one, and there are still some on German and French sites.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy and mineral, velvety and rocky, fruity and austere. Pears and mangoes mingle with a hint of iodine, beautiful breadth, a hard, thick cliff runs along the beach. A touch of charcoal at the end. On the palate, vanilla and a few candied citrus fruits, well-managed spices, clove, white pepper, softened by the smoothness of the wine at the end. Deep, earthy background, well done. Quite a long, syrupy finish, with the fruits gently coming through. Brown sugar, plain yoghurt. Apricot jam.

 

In Short, 

It is a perfect success in its own way. You have to like wine casks, of course, which I do. Mastered from start to finish and very pleasant. The distillery's mineral profile is still there, and it is not too syrupy or sweet. As is often the case these days, I find that the price is just over the amount I would have been willing to let go for this bottle, which is a shame.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Paramore- Let The Flames Bzgin

Glen Elgin 2009 Valinch & Mallet The Young Masters Edition 12 yo

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead

Indepeneant Bottling 

By Valinch & Mallet Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Italian bottler Valinch & Mallet has been around for a good decade, but I've only heard about it for a few years. Within The Young Masters Edition range, this 12-year-old Glen Elgin was aged in a single Bourbon Hogshead before being released in 250 copies.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very sweet nose, vanilla coated with whipped cream, light iodine, cereal fragrances. Genoise, pastry cream, puffed rice. Beautiful woody and mineral fullness, but a little hidden by the gourmandise. The palate is milky and maritime, oysters, crayfish. Vanilla, coconut, chocolate chips. The spices are beautiful and well managed, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon. The finish is crystalline, lemon pulp, iodized freshness. Dry earth, mountain bushes, eucalyptus.

 

In Short, 

Beautiful object. With Glen Elgin, there is always something else, mineral, marine, iodized. The distillery is nevertheless about ten kilometers from the sea, but it is the feeling I have. It is also a very sweet product, which makes a beautiful blend, between greediness and marine minerality. The price is acceptable, a purchase is more than possible.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           James Bay - Hold Back The River

Glen Elgin The Manager's Dram 15 yo

 

 

 

60,2°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Sherry Butt

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 1988

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

On January 28, 1988, the Distillery Manager R.J. Grant blindly selected among a hundred others this Sherry cask distilled around 1972, and bottled it for his close collaborators at United Distillers, which later became Diageo. We do not know how many bottles were released, but there were few. Every year or so, The Manager’s Dram celebrates a distillery from Diageo, one of which was selected by the Distillery Manager for the group’s employees. It seems that 1988 was the year when this range was inaugurated.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody Sherry, with hints of tinder, mahogany, Armenian paper, and a slight mineral note. The fruit moves towards ripe banana and white plum, and the wood seems to have been toasted, giving it charcoal overtones, a tiny amount of smoke, black tea, Russian-style, burnt rubber, leather, iron filings, biscuits. Gingerbread, with dried raisins and candied fruits. Farther back, it's more exotic, more tropical, pomegranate, papaya, passion fruit. The wood is heavy, rough, creamy, almost sweet but very intense. The palate is rich and spicy, with cumin, pepper, ginger, very fertile earth, mangroves, laurel, coconut and almonds. The finish is very long, pleasant, more luscious, almost syrupy, cola, gravel, black cherry and muscat grape, blueberry, heather.

 

In Short,

An absolutely outstanding nose, so much so that the mouth seemed disappointing in comparison, although it was very good. The result is a masterpiece of originality and intensity that can rarely be encountered. This dram will remain among my best memories of whiskies. However, the purchase is impossible, unless you have an extra car.  

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Louis Armstrong - Hello Dolly