Glenglassaugh Revival Review

“Bad Moon Rising”

Country: Scotland

Region: Eastern Highlands bordering Speyside

Brand: Glenglassaugh Revival

Type: Single Malt

Age: NAS  

ABV: 46%

Colour: Copper

Nose: The Oloroso Cask Finish left some Sulphur but also provided a little bit of depth to the Revival. Otherwise it would have been mainly Young and Sharp Alcohol. I reviewed the successor to the Revival (Evolution) earlier and I must say that they are worlds apart. I liked the Evolution despite it being just as young as the Revival. But I'm not at all impressed by the Revival. It rather feels like an "unfinished" New Make Spirit, thrown onto the market to make some quick cash. I understand the need of new operations to make cash but it's really a Thin Line Between Love and Hate. If I wouldn't have tasted the Evolution earlier, the Glenglassaugh would have made a bad first impression. But let's proceed with the actual Nosing. I find Pear Drops, slightly Sour Berries, Citrus, Nectarine, light Vanilla, Dough, Barley, Buttered Toast, Burnt Sugar, Oak, Nuts, Raisins, Herbal Tea, Grass and traces of Varnish, Menthol and Ginger.     

Taste: Watery, Bitter-Sweet and slightly Sour with Orange, Alcohol, Buttered Toast, Candle Wax, Grass, light Sulphur, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Nuts, Malt, Dried Fruit, Plum Jam, Cherries, Brown Sugar, Oak, Licorice and traces of Cooked Vegetables.

Finish: Short with Caramel, Toffee, Artificially Flavoured Bubble Gum, Milk, Citrus Peel, light Vanilla, Ginger Ale Diet, Stale Espresso, Nuts, Bitter Oak, light Pepper, Licorice and Cinnamon. A light Metallic aftertaste. Dry in the end.    

I added a few drops of Water and I get lots of Cooked Vegetables and Potatoes on the Nose. Otherwise, the Revival becomes too Thin. Better sip it Neat if you must.

Rating: 78 

Nose: 20 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 19.5

General Remarks: The Glenglassaugh Distillery is located in Portsoy, Banffshire and was founded in 1875 by James Moir and his two nephews William and Alexander Morrison. In 1892 the distillery was sold to Highland Distillers and it remained in their possession until 2008. It was closed three times in its history, most recently between 1986 and 2008. In 2008 it was revived by the Dutch Scaent Group. Finally, in 2013, Glenglassaugh was bought by The BenRiach Distillery Company that also operates BenRiach and GlenDronach. 

The Revival was launched in 2012 and was the first Glenglassaugh expression. being released by the Distillery after having been mothballed for over 20 years. It's a 3 Year old Whisky that matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex Red Wine Casks before being finished for 6 months in Ex-Oloroso Butts. The Revival is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It, costs on average 50 US Dollars (October 2015). The sample I'm tasting today was likely distilled around 2008 and bottled around 2012.

Drinking Experience Neat: Not Very Inspiring.

Conclusion: A Revival usually represents a Return to the Good Old Days. I don't think that's the case with this Glenglassaugh although I am not familiar with the Whiskies of this distillery that were produced before 1986. As so often is the case, starting or re-starting whisky operations have the need for Cash Flow to reduce the financing costs. In my opinion it would be better to produce Gin or a similar Spirit rather than being forced to launch young, not fully matured Single Malts. This could so easily cause an adverse effect on the reputation of the distillery involved. Luckily we know that the follow up to the Revival is truly an Evolution when compared to the former. So while we eagerly await a future where fully matured Glenglassaugh Malts will be available, we will comfort ourselves for the time being with the Evolution and leave the Revival alone!    

Jan van den Ende                                                                October 8, 2015