Glen Ord 2012 100 Proof Edition #46 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This one was released over a year ago, but I only managed to get hold of a sample recently. Perhaps that was a mistake, as I know just how unfairly overlooked this distillery is, and the rare 100 Proof bottlings aged in bourbon casks are often interesting. All the more so as this one is 12 years old, which is not that bad.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely lemony freshness, with a slight acidity. Subtle bursts of iodine, skilfully distilled. Brioche, lamb’s lettuce salad, a drizzle of creamy vanilla. Oily grains, lime blossom honey, a whisper of chlorophyll. Fairly subtle floral notes. The oily character is repeated on the palate, but the influence of the wood is also evident, bark, splinters, a few very ripe plums, fairly robust spices, herbaceous touches. It is quite mellow. Candied lemon on the finish, quite long, almost pastry-like, liquorice and cola, hazelnuts, macerated apples. The oaky notes linger nonetheless. Crushed pepper.

 

In Short, 

As expected, it’s a lovely, fruity whisky, smooth and oily, with a welcome hint of grain. Fans of this style would do well to give it a try. All the more so as the price is very reasonable, just like the rest of the range.

Score : 87+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Marissa Nadler - Drive

The Singleton Glen Ord 17 yo Special Release 2025 Into the Blue

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

Refill Bourbon Casks, 2d Fill Sherry and Mezcal Barrels Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Also part of the Diageo Special Releases 2025, this 17-year-old Glen Ord is the result of blending two types of maturation. One was aged for 12 years in refill bourbon casks, then for 5 years in second-fill sherry casks, while the other was aged for 14 years in the same refill bourbon casks, then for 3 years in mezcal barrels. I'm not a big fan of mezcal and I'm very wary of this kind of atypical maturation. But curiosity gets the better of me and I try a quarter dram.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Airy freshness, light tropical humidity, evanescent fruits, persimmon, melon, ripe pears. Raisins, cinnamon, baked apples. Candied lemon, toasted agave, then vegetal notes, reeds, bamboo, a few lychees. On the palate, it is smoother, with honey and crushed apricots, white peaches and prickly pears, a pinch of salt and ginger. Discreet spices and earthy notes. Fairly long finish, dry earth, white pepper, tanned leather, dried fruit, macerated almonds. Crushed hazelnuts, orange zest, mint leaf.

 

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's quite interesting, and it has the merit of being original. It's not bad, but it doesn't have the classic characteristics of a whisky, the mezcal has a lot of influence here. I'm not very enthusiastic, to be honest, but I did like the finish, which makes up for the rest. The price is very high, however, so it's not worth buying. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Silvius Leopold Weiss - Ciacona in G Minor

Glen Ord 2012 The Nectar of the Daily Drams Signatory Vintage 11 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Daily Dram & Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the second bottling produced jointly by Daily Dram and Signatory Vintage. Basically, the Belgians took what they liked from Mr Symington's warehouses. And here we have a Glen Ord matured in a single Bourbon Barrel, aged for 11 years. Unfortunately, there are no details on the number of bottles obtained. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very fruity, orchard fruits, white peaches, Conference pears, juicy apples, but also a lovely mellowness, egg custard, brioche, butter biscuits, filled with caramel. Creamy vanilla, a few citrus fruits, but more grapefruit than lemon. Very well balanced overall. On the palate, the fruit is more candied, like chewy sweets, with a pinch of icing sugar, and rather discreet spices. The finish is fairly long but not interminable either, shortbread biscuits, braised chestnuts, a slice of lime and lemon tart. 

 

In Short, 

Glen Ord is a distillery that I like more and more, and here I found the nose and palate really close to perfection. The finish on the other hand is fine, but lacks a little power and length. It's a successful bottling, but it could have been really impressive with a slightly higher alcohol content. The price was attractive, but it's not really available any more, so you'll have to be smart to find the last bottles in stock at a reasonable price. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Olya Sonica - Let Me In

The Singleton Glen Ord 14 yo Special Release 2024 Autumn Walk

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Casks, Charred Spanish Oak Ends Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Singleton brand was launched in 1986 to promote lesser-known distilleries such as Auchroisk, which was considered too difficult for the general public to pronounce. Subsequently, Singleton was limited to Dufftown, Glendullan and Glen Ord, the latter often considered to be the best of the three. Here we have a 14-year limited edition of this Glen Ord, finished in Charred Casks, the ends of which come from the Pyrenees mountains and are known as Spanish oak.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

White fruits, plums, grapes, peaches, orchard fruits, apples of all colours, ripe pears, liquid honey. Herbaceous notes, angelica, freshly cut grass in wet weather, occasional earthy touches. Airy freshness, perhaps a hint of iodine. Vanilla on the palate, lemon pie with pastry cream, some cereals, sweet spices, cinnamon, rosemary, nutmeg. The finish is long and almost powerful, woody, mahogany, rain-softened bark, vegetal moss, pistachio crumbs. Chestnuts and wheat.

 

In Short, 

It's very pleasant to drink, with a very fruity nose, vanilla on the palate and a deep, almost charcoal finish. Glen Ord is definitely one of these distilleries I'm partial to. But, as is often the case with these Diageo Special Releases, the extravagant price is the problem.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Anna Ransom - Slow Climb

Glen Ord 2012 100 Proof Edition #22 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Barely a year into its existence, this is already the 22nd bottling in the 100 Proof series, not counting the Exceptional Casks, which form a separate sub-range. How far will they go? This one is aged in Bourbon casks, which is not so common in this collection, dominated by Sherry. We don't know how many bottles have been produced, but it's in the region of several thousand.

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty citrus, rocky grapefruit, with a touch of hay and lemon. It's mellow, airy, mirabelle plums, greengages, dried apricots. Cut wheat, it's harvest time. The lawn after the rain. Green tea. Herbal notes, candied angelica, a sage leaf. It's still citrusy on the palate, with hints of white plum and even vanilla. Then some spices, pepper, nutmeg. Nice fullness. The finish is long and powerful, cloves, fairly herbal, laurel, but also slightly smooth. Frangipane with bits of almond. Calissons.

 

In Short, 

Another great success in this range. I think I particularly like this distillery, which is underrated. The combination of saline and herbal notes, fruit and citrus, is very well-balanced and full of character. Given the value for money, this is a must-buy.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jackson C. Frank - My Name is Carnival

Glen Ord 1996 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection Cask Strength 21 yo

 

 

 

55,7°

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

Glen Ord is a little-known distillery, but it is one of those behind the Singleton brand, and one of the main ingredients in Johnnie Walker Blend. It's a guarantee of quality. Cadenhead has made several dozen bottlings from this distillery, including this one, which was aged for 21 years in a Bourbon Hogshead before filling 252 bottles.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Young wood and soft fruit, it's airy, with grains of puffed rice, liquid honey, lime, and behind, pumpkin, butternut with some fine spices. After a while, it becomes forestry, and mineral, with notes of gypsum and gravel. The palate is very smooth and pleasant, with light vanilla, then the spices arrive and it becomes more violent, with grey pepper and cumin. Very long finish, with citrus fruits, grapefruit, candied pineapple, dry bark, apricots. Peach pits.

 

In Short, 

This is a very good whisky, interesting and original, light but with a certain character. At once mineral, foresty, fruity, grainy and, of course, woody. It comes up at auction from time to time, and as it's not widely known, it's a good opportunity to do some bargains.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jenny Hval - Spells

Glen Ord 2012 Artist Collective #6.3 9 yo

 

 

 

43° 

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is already the 6th Batch of the Artist Collective range, launched in 2017. It's the occasion to discover the Glen Ord distillery, a gem from the Highlands still little known. It is one of the most prolific distilleries in Scotland, with more than 3 million liters of alcohol per year, intended to Blends for the most part. Here we have 6 casks, all first fill Bourbon, which have aged at least 9 years before being transferred into 1920 bottles. The label was decorated by the Greek artist Yannis Khannoussi.

Let's Taste It : 

Candied lemon, herbaceous notes, hints of iodine and clay. Nice sweetness that stands out, cane syrup and rose water, some citrus zest, reeds, oily leaves, orchard fruits in abundance. Very light acidity. The mouth is a little light, stringy, the white fruits are felt, vanilla pod, Mirabelle plums, bananas, pears. Light spices, cloves, nutmeg, ginger. Fairly long finish, but not disruptive, yellow apples, charcoal, cola, lemon pie. Wind-blown grasses.

In Short, 

It's quite nice, maybe a little too sweet and lemony for my taste, but some will like it. It lacks a bit of power and character, but it's well done. I enjoyed this herbaceous profile which seemed original. The price seems a bit too much.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Kurt Vile & The Violators - Check Baby