Glenglassaugh 12 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 45%

The distillery sits so close to the North Sea that the warehouses take salt air in through the walls. You can taste it, and that is the whole point of this bottling.

The expert's description

Glenglassaugh 12 Year is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon, sherry and red wine casks and bottled at 45%.

The cask recipe is what sets it apart from the rest of the range. The bourbon casks give vanilla and light fruit, the sherry adds nuts and dried fruit, and the red wine casks lay in a berry note you rarely meet in a permanent twelve year old.

The whisky became the flagship when Glenglassaugh rebuilt its entire core range in the summer of 2023. It was put together by master blender Rachel Barrie and matured in the distillery coastal warehouses looking out over Sandend Bay.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apricot and fig with toasted vanilla. A soft, warm fruitiness with a hint of salt air behind it.

Palate

Candied nuts, dates and sweet fig with cherry and cream. The 45% gives it some weight without making it heavy.

Finish

Medium length with nuts, cocoa and a lightly salted caramel at the close.

Specifications

Name: Glenglassaugh 12 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 45%
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon, sherry and red wine casks
EAN no.: 5060716144202

Flavour profile

Coastal · Ripe fruit · Nutty · Vanilla · Light salt

Did you know?

Glenglassaugh was founded in 1875 by the grocer James Moir from Portsoy. He built the distillery because he wanted a whisky good enough for his own customers in the shop.

See our full range of Glenglassaugh

Frequently asked questions about Glenglassaugh 12 Year

What does coastal style mean?

That the whisky matures in warehouses close to the sea, where the air is damp and salty. Many people taste a lightly salted note in whisky of that kind, and Glenglassaugh builds the whole range around it.

Why red wine casks?

They give a berry note that neither bourbon nor sherry can deliver. It is still unusual in a permanent range, and it is one reason this one stands apart from other twelve year olds.

Is it smoky?

No. The twelve year old is unpeated. If you want smoke from the same distillery, Portsoy is the one to look for.

When did the current version arrive?

In the summer of 2023, when the whole core range was rebuilt with new packaging and three permanent expressions. The twelve year old became the flagship.

Who is behind the recipe?

Master blender Rachel Barrie, who also shapes the ranges at BenRiach and Glendronach. She has worked with Scotch whisky for over thirty years.

Where is the distillery?

On the coast between the village of Sandend and the harbour town of Portsoy in north-east Scotland, just outside the Speyside boundary.

What suits it?

It is light enough to drink neat as an evening dram, and the 45% holds up to a single ice cube without falling apart. See the rest of the selection in our Scotch Whisky section.