Glengoyne 17 Years Review


Country: Scotland 
Region: Southern Highlands
Brand: Glengoyne 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 17 Years
ABV: 43 %

Colour: Golden with a touch of Orange

Nose: Immediate images of Christmas with Rum Soaked Fruit Cake, Christmas Spices, Sherry, a little Sulphur, Blackcurrant Muffins, Honey, Orange Peel, Oak, Nuts, Red Fruit, Bourbon, Vanilla, Sweet Barley, Brown Sugar, Cocoa, Grass, Warm Stewed Apples, Caramelised Bananas, Buttered Cake, Floral Soap and a sprinkle of Ginger and Cinnamon. It's quite Sweet and a bit Heavy. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. It's similar to the 15 Years but it opens up more easily.

Palate: Sweet but slightly Thin delivery. An ABV of 46% would have been more adequate for this Spirit. I find Fruitcake, Orange Peel, Banana Ice Cream, Rum, Dried Fruits, Vanilla, Red Fruit, Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Cocoa, Walnuts, Malt, Oak, light Sherry, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and light Pepper. 

Finish: Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet with Sweet Barley, Milk Chocolate, Pear, Orange, Banana, Vanilla, Cocoa, Coffee, Oak, Brown Sugar, Nutmeg, Pepper and a little Mint.


I added a bit of Water and the Nose gets more Vanilla, Apple and Oak. Palate and Finish do not benefit from extra Water. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 82.5 

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


General Remarks: The Glengoyne Distillery was founded in 1833 by the known Edmonstone Family and is located in Dumgoyne by Killearn (Glasgow). Since 2003 it is owned by Ian MacLeod Distillers. Glengoyne has the slowest Distilling process of all Scottish distilleries to ensure lots of contact with the Copper Stills. The Barley is also dried exclusively with Hot Air. Peat is never used. Glengoyne is used in Blends like The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark. The Glengoyne 17 Years is naturally coloured and matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and new - and refill Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks. Unfortunately it has been discontinued. The 17 Years was sold at around 75 US Dollars before it was discontinued. Today it might cost you anything between 70 and 150 US Dollars (March 2015)

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I can see why this expression has been discontinued. It does not differ a whole lot from the 15 years and there's already an 18 years in the core range as well. That makes the 17 Years a bit superfluous. Having said that, the 17 Years is not a bad Single Malt. But it's on the Thin side for a 17 years and it should have been bottled at 46%. I also found traces of Sulphur and I'm not at all into that. I'm almost as critical as Jim Murray in this respect. Wow, who would have thought that! I will try and get a sample of the 18 years but so far I would advise you to choose the 15 years instead. The 17 years does not justify its current price tag.

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 30, 2015


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