Glen Garioch 10 Years Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 56,2%

Two guys from Aberdeenshire, a couple of bourbon barrels and a good deal of patience. Glen Garioch is Little Brown Dog's closest neighbour, and they waited a long time for casks worth putting their name on.

The expert's description

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels and bottled at cask strength 56.2%.

The spirit ran off the stills at Glen Garioch on 17 November 2014 and went into glass on 17 February 2025. Little Brown Dog married two 1st fill bourbon barrels for this Small Batch, giving 337 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Glen Garioch sits in Oldmeldrum north-west of Aberdeen and has been distilling since 1797. It is the most easterly working malt distillery in Scotland, and the house style runs drier and more cereal-driven than the softer Speyside profile you meet an hour's drive west. 1st fill bourbon barrels lay vanilla and bright fruit over that cereal core without burying it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear tart straight out of the oven, kiwi and baked apple. There is a whisper of whipped cream behind the fruit, and a few minutes in the glass draws out something floral.

Palate

Full and juicy. Tinned pineapple, honeydew melon and rhubarb crumble, carried by a cask strength that gives the whisky body without scorching. Cereal malt sits under the fruit the whole way.

Finish

Crème anglaise and conference pear, fading into a dry twist of white pepper. Long and gently spiced.

Specifications

Name: Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky 56.2%
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 56.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 17 November 2014
Bottled: 17 February 2025
Number of bottles: 337
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Creamy · Spiced · Cask Strength

Did you know?

For years Glen Garioch put the distillery's surplus heat to work in greenhouses right next to production. Tomatoes were grown on steam from the whisky.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog Small Batch

How strong is Glen Garioch 10 Year Old Little Brown Dog to drink neat?

It is bottled at cask strength 56.2%, so it has bite. Try it neat first to get the full fruit expression, then add a few drops of water. The pear and melon open up noticeably.

Is this Glen Garioch peated?

No. The spirit dates from 2014 and was made with unpeated malt. Glen Garioch worked with peated malt until the early 1990s, but the modern house style is clean and fruity. To compare Scottish styles, browse the full Scotch Whisky selection.

What does Small Batch mean at Little Brown Dog?

It means the bottling comes from a handful of casks rather than a single one. Here two 1st fill bourbon barrels were married, which gives a slightly broader flavour than a pure single cask.

What do 1st fill bourbon barrels do to the flavour?

They give the most, because they have not yet handed anything over to a previous whisky. Expect vanilla, coconut and bright fruit sweetness, plus a clearer American oak imprint than a refill cask would leave.

Who is behind Little Brown Dog?

Andrew and Chris run Little Brown Dog out of Aberdeenshire, bottling casks from other distilleries alongside their own releases. Glen Garioch is their nearest neighbour, and they held back until the casks were right.

Is it a good gift for someone who knows whisky?

Yes. Cask strength, single malt from an independent bottler and a small outturn are three things an experienced drinker notices. If the recipient prefers gentle drams, keep the strength in mind.

How should I store the bottle?

Upright, dark and cool. Whisky does not develop in the bottle the way wine does, but light and heat dull the aromas over time, and a bottle left on its side can attack the cork.