MacDonald's Glencoe 8 Years Review

“The Kind of Junk Food I Like”

Country: Scotland

Region: Western Highlands

Brand: MacDonald's Glencoe (Ben Nevis Distillery)

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 58%

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: Young, Dry and Nutty with Sherry, light Sulphur, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Malt Straw, Cereals, Orange Marmalade, Honey, Toffee, Green Coffee Beans, Oak, Canned Peaches, Spices and Vinegar. The Alcohol is quite strong so better Nose your way around the edge of the glass. Give it enough time in the glass to open up.

Taste: Strong Delivery with Sherry, light Sulphur, Strong Tea, Oak, Barley, Nuts, Spices, light Menthol, Dried Apricot, Coconut, Toffee and Honey.  

Finish: Middle-Long, Fiery and Strong with Barley, Caramel, Nuts, Coconut, Strong Tea, Licorice, Menthol and Spices. A hint of Dark Chocolate after a few minutes.

Bottles on Display at the Ben Nevis Gift Shop

I added a bit of Water but that did not improve the Aroma and Flavour Profile. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: This Blended Malt Whisky was introduced to the market in the late 1960's by Rory McDonald, a direct descendant of Long John McDonald who founded the Ben Nevis Distillery in 1825. The distillery is located near Fort William (Inverness-shire) at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Since 1989 the distillery is part of the Nikka Group from Japan. The Glencoe Blend is a bit of a mystery to me. It's produced at Ben Nevis but does that mean that there are no other Malts present in the Blend? In any case, it's Naturally Coloured, likely Not Chill-Filtered and apparently bottled at Cask Strength. This means of course that at least various badges are blended to be able to reach the exact ABV of 58%. Judging by the flavours, both Ex-Sherry - and Ex-Bourbon Casks were used. The Blend costs around 65 US Dollars.

Glen Coe

The name of the Blend refers to the massacre at Glen Coe in 1692 of 38 McIans (sept of the clan McDonald) by government troops under Captain Robert Campbell. What made matters even worse was the fact that Campbell and his men had enjoyed the famous Highland hospitality before killing their hosts.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: It's not an easy one to score. On the one hand it's quite young and not at all complicated and I do get some Sulphur but on the other hand the high ABV and the absence of Chill-Filtration give it quite some punch and character. I would not kill any McIans for a bottle of MacDonald's Glencoe 8 Years but I also wouldn't say no to a dram of this MacDonald's if offered to me in the Highlands. It beats their Hamburger anytime!

Jan van den Ende                                                             October 5, 2014

Ben Nevis Distillery (May 2014)