Glen Garioch - 11yo Independents
Thompson Brothers & Cadenheads Cask Strength | 48.5% & 54.1 ABV Respectively
Nothing like a session to put your senses to the test, and truly humble your own perceptions!
Christmas is upon us once again: the month of December is full of work outings, team parties and festive events during the nine-to-five slog. It was during one overnight event that I was humbled in my 'skills' with my sense of smell and taste, coming away questioning my ability to identify certain flavours in whisky.
It was back in early 2017 when I first bought two bottles of and a pair of copita glasses to start my adventure into whisky. Before then everything just tasted like whiskey. Irish and some bourbon were the main types I enjoyed, with a mixer or water to dial down the ABV. Little did I know back then how far down this whisky rabbit hole I‘d go, and eventually find the opportunity for all you lovely readers to read my ramblings and tasting notes.
I'm still learning and honing my whisky tasting 'skills', if you could call them that. It'll be an on-going process for as long as I love and chase this glorious spirit. I'm always keen to try new whiskies, no matter the style, presentation or flavour. The way I see it, the more I try - side by side if need be - the more tasting notes might come to mind. I might even get lucky and guess the correct whisky, region, or distillery.
That was surprisingly put to the test this week, when attending an overnight work event. The entertainment that night, for a group of 40 individuals, was a Sensorium Experience: a Belfast based company that facilitates many food and drinks tours throughout the city or, in this case, for a private event hire. One caveat here: I'd already inhaled a bit of Guinness after a long day of presenting and pretending to listen. This was also a 'surprise team building exercise', so I thought nothing of it and started my contribution to the company tab behind the bar. I do my best sometimes.
Each person was seated in front of their own tasting placemat, with various sections that would be populated throughout the experience. There were also some dark chocolates, jelly beans, a large metal spoon and a tumbler glass. The team from Sensorium explained how the event would go, taking us through various experiences that would test our taste and smell senses. Right up my street! I could already hear folk heckling that I would 'boss this'. No pressure then.
We kicked off by placing small drops of liquid, from a beaker and pipette, one at a time from five different beakers. Each related to a taste of sour, sweet, savoury (or Umami), bitter and salty. We had to place our guesses into the circles labelled 1 through 5: the 5 pillars of flavour, which was a fun way to start, watching other people's reaction to the variety of drops. On a small card you picked one favourite from the five, and we moved onto the next section.
Between parts we were given gin based cocktails as a palate cleanser. I'm not a fan of gin , so the flavour lingered on in my mouth more than I'd have liked, which is not an excuse for my performance to come.
On our table we found 10 smaller beakers with pipettes labelled A - J. Tasting each one in turn, dropping them on our spoon, we had to try our best to identify each flavour, which was an absolute hoot. Folks were shouting out tasting notes from vanilla, to herbs right through to sulphuric acid. As before, we wrote down our guess within the 15 minute time limit and keeping a group of 40 slowly fraying folk on track is difficult enough, before we were told the answers. I didn’t do too bad on this one to be fair, accurately guessing 7 out of the 10, with two of them being nothing like what I'd written. So in my mind, they’re wrong, not me.
Moving on and again we'd write down our preferred flavour from the 10 at hand on our small card and... I can guess where this is going.
The last part was the killer part for me. In a rather large box, 8 small plastic air pumps containing small 'seeds' were revealed. Each pump was coloured differently, and we were instructed to give each a vigorous shake before pumping the air towards our nose, extracting a specific smell. We'd write down our guesses and await the answers. I don't know why, but to me it all smelled like cinnamon or sliced pear, something that was mentioned by quite a few of the masses around me. I closed my eyes and sniffed the back of my hand between each pump to see if I could differentiate, but I simply couldn't. Some of the answers were ludicrous, but it really was great fun guessing with folk around me, as we all didn't have a clue. What didn't help was comments such as, 'I thought you'd be good at this?'
Me too, partner, me too.
Turning to our little cards for the last time, we filled in the final box, locking in our favourite smell. These were all collected, with our names on each card, so that a personal cocktail could be crafted using our choices that evening. It was probably the best part of the night. The drink made for me was absolutely horrendous, and I don't think a single person was given something enjoyable or tasty, but good fun to try each other's and watch the reactions. I think mine was a mixture of vanilla, blackberry syrup and some dark rum. Not something I'd select or order, but given my choices…those were my favourite on the night. Not a wise choice.
I figured this experience would be a good one to share with the readership of Dramface. I've taken time to experience many whiskies, and found enjoyment in doing so, but putting my senses to the test in an environment like that was something unique. A lot of people mentioned that it's really subjective, and ultimately down to your own preference at the end of the day.
One example that really got me was a small pipette dropper tasting like dish soap, a tasting note mentioned by a lot for that particular drop. But the 'real' flavour was elderflower. Interesting. I really enjoy elderflower based waters, whether still or sparkling, so this wasn't something I could reconcile.
Anyway, after completing tasting notes for these two Glen Garioch bottlings from indies, I went hunting for some official notes from these bottles online. I couldn't help thinking I was a fraud after that experience. I hope you all don't think of me as one either.
Review 1/2
Thompson Brothers Glen Garioch 11 Year old.
2012 Vintage. 48.5% ABV | Cask filled - 11/07/2012 | Bottled - July 2023 | Cask type - 2 first fill barrels
Nose
Icing sugar. Plums. Super crumbly honey oat biscuits. Ripe peaches and sliced apples. Loads of citrus juice mixed in with orchard fruits. Refresher bar confectionary, lemon meringue and mushed white grapes. Still in the confectionary world here, parma violet sweets (sweet lavender) and musky wood
Palate
Bitter coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Transforms into tiramisu and vanilla cream. A slight peppery spike and a sour coating towards the back end. A lick of shaved ginger, and those oat biscuits from the nose come through too. Tropical fruits, and going a bit deeper you have mango with cubed pineapple pieces. More confectionary sweetness with pear drop hard boiled sweets and that super sweet raspberry syrup you'd have on top of ice cream. The spice lingers for an age on this one, with a delicious, long finish turning ever so dry as it fades.
Score: 7/10
Review 2/2
Cadenhead Cask Strength Glen Garioch 11 Year old.
2011 Vintage. 54.1% ABV | Distilled - 2011 | Bottled - Summer 2023 | Cask type - Bourbon barrel
Nose
Banana skin. Rose petals and sliced pears. Candied peel and raisins. Orange marmalade. Sponge cake and vanilla icing. Roasted pecans. A hint of cedarwood and an orange rind. Gooey caramel and oat milk, with some white sugar coated oat biscuits.
Palate
Brown sugar and cinnamon sticks. Plain sugared donuts and icing sugar. Sweet apple tea. Choux pastry. Over ripe grapes and a a real doughy element to this dram. It's ever so slightly savoury, that kinda reminds me of some gravy granules. It has a great crisp and fresh mouthfeel. It's bright, eventful and has me going back for more. The finish is medium to long, with a grates lemon flavour that really clings on at the end.
The Dregs
I'm delighted to own these Glen Garioch whiskies and thank Dougie Crystal for bringing the distillery to my attention. He'd sent me across various samples from both their core range and indie bottle releases. Was this the dram that he described as 'purple'? I'm not sure. But a wonderful drop of whisky nonetheless.
The Thompson Bro's was a hit at the Glasgow Whisky Festival this year, and I'm glad to have picked up a bottle to examine in the comfort of my own home. I'd seen the Cadenhead's release a good while back from their summer outturn, and with good experiences from samples previously, I decided to take a punt seeing as the price was brilliant, at £55.
Both being 11 years old, despite being bottled in 2 separate years, there are of course similarities in the liquid, but still noticeable differences between the two. Hence the score. The Cadenhead’s got the extra point due to the greater depth in the fruity layer it presented, as well as the surprising slight meat element I found in there too. If you can get your hands on these, I’d seriously consider grabbing them. I don't think you'd be disappointed at all.
Let me know your experiences of Glen Garioch, or if you've tasted one you enjoy, I'd love to hear from you about it.
In regards to the tasting experience, I had a fabulous time going through that ordeal. It's been the best team building thing I've endured in a long time. I think you can find some tasting enhancement sets online, for around £100. It would be a good investment or perhaps early festive gift if you've the cash to spare, for something I think could help you pick out more in-depth tasting notes. I'm still confident in how I enjoy, experience and notice whisky when I pour a dram, be it for myself or for the tasting notes I bring to you.
Speaking of gifts for loved ones for Christmas, why not give yourself the gift of a subscription to Dramface? It's something that keeps the lights on here at Dramface central, gives you access to the currently sleepy and silent member’s lounge (but we’re conspiring there) and early listening to the Podcast (new season cranks up soon). Every subscription helps protect independent opinion in whisky. Thank you.
Score: 8/10
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