Glengoyne 15 years old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%

Twenty-five percent first fill sherry casks is a lot for a permanent bottling. It is the sort of cask split usually only worked out on paper by people rather too interested in wood — and here you can taste it.

The expert's description

Glengoyne 15 Year is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a fixed mix of bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 43% with natural colour.

The split is twenty percent first fill bourbon casks, twenty-five percent first fill sherry casks and fifty-five percent refill sherry casks. The bourbon casks keep the whisky bright, the first fill sherry casks add colour and dried fruit, and the refill casks tie it all together.

The malt is unpeated as in the rest of the range. Without smoke there is plenty of room for the casks, and the fifteen years give a clearly deeper tone than the twelve year old without making the whisky heavy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, nuts and orange peel with a note of cinnamon cake and soft oak.

Palate

Round and malty with raisin, walnut and dark caramel. The sherry takes up more room than in the younger expressions, with a firm spiced middle.

Finish

Long and dry with nuts, malt and spiced oak.

Specifications

Name: Glengoyne 15 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Glengoyne
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon casks, 1st fill sherry casks and refill sherry casks
Colour: Natural
EAN no.: 5010852026658

Flavour profile

Unpeated · Sherried · Dried fruit · Nutty · Spiced

Did you know?

The warehouse George Connell built alongside the distillery in 1833 is still standing. It serves today as the shop and visitor reception, so guests step straight into the oldest building on the site.

See our full range of Glengoyne

Frequently asked questions about Glengoyne 15 Year

What sets it apart from the twelve year old?

Three more years and a heavier sherry share. Twenty-five percent of the casks are first fill sherry, which gives more dried fruit, nuts and colour than the twelve year old.

Is it smoky?

No. Glengoyne dries the malt with warm air, so there is no peat smoke in any of their bottlings.

Does it have added colour?

No. The fifteen year old has natural colour, so what you see in the glass comes from the casks.

What does refill sherry cask mean?

That the cask has held whisky before. It gives less wood and colour than a first fill cask, which is why the whisky is not drowned in sherry.

Should I add water?

At 43% it is not necessary. A couple of drops can loosen the fruit, but taste it neat first and see whether it needs any.

Does it work as a gift?

Yes. Fifteen years and a permanent range make it easy to pass on, and it is mild enough to suit a wide range of tastes.

What else is there from the Highlands?

See the full selection at Glengoyne or look more widely in our Scotch Whisky section.