This Glen Elgin release spent 18 years in sherry oak before bottling. It’s only the third time this Speyside distillery has been featured in the Special Release series.

One of the more conventional (though perfectly well-made) bottlings in this lineup, this Glen Elgin is well sherried, to the point where the nose takes on a nutty character, dense to the point of offering a furniture polish note. The orange peel and clove notes are aromatically thick, as is the palate, which is exceptionally sharp I think more due to the sherry influence than the cask strength alcohol level. Water is a friend here, and just a drop or two will do wonders to soften that throat-scratching harshness. What emerges is a much quieter whisky with notes of lemon honey, tea leaf, and some Christmas spice. At cask strength, the finish is a bit rough-and-tumble; appropriately watered down, it reveals a more approachable, though less enthralling, spirit.

109.6 proof. 5,352 bottles produced

B+ / $340 / malts.com [BUY IT NOW FROM THE WHISKY EXCHANGE]

Glen Elgin 18 Years Old Limited Edition 2017

$340

8.5

Rating

8.5/10

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