“Simple Entry Level Speysider”
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Glenlossie Flora & Fauna
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 43%
Colour: Light Gold/Hay
Nose: Young, Malty, Waxy, Fruity and Sweet with Barley Sugar, Buttered Toast, Breakfast Cereals, Sweet Red Apple, Banana Milk Shake, Straw, light Vanilla, Corn Syrup, Sugared Almonds, Plum Jam, Pineapple in Heavy Juice, Citrus Peel, Honey, Pencil Shavings, Floral tones and a hint of Varnish. It's quite predictable but I can see why it's such an important and regular supplier to the Blended Whisky industry. Because no one will feel in the slightest way offended by the Nose of this Glenlossie. The ABV is Spot-On.
Palate: Sweet and mildly Spicy with Malt, Toffee, Caramel, Syrup, Lemon Zest, Honey, Banana, Grapefruit, Nuts, light Oak, Dried Herbs, Nutmeg, Ginger and Pepper.
Finish: Middle-Long, slightly Edgy and Sweet-and-Sour with Barley Sugar, light Oak, Nutmeg, Pepper, Light Licorice, Grapefruit Juice, Cocoa Powder, Butter and Dark Chocolate. After a little while, Waxy and Soapy tones appear. A bit Dry in the end.
With some Water I find more Malt, Fruit as well as some Coconut Juice on the Nose. But as the ABV of 43% is Spot-On, Palate and Finish do not require the added Water.
Rating: 82.5
Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5
General Remarks: The Glenlossie distillery was founded in 1876 by John Duff and is located in Birnie-Elgin (Morayshire). In 1919 DCL bought the distillery and subsequent mergers and take-overs brought it under the wings of the Diageo Group. The Spirit is recognised as an important Blending Whisky and is mainly used in the Haig and Dimple Blends. In 1990, the 10 Year Old I'm reviewing today was introduced as part of the Flora & Fauna Series. It sells at an average 70 US Dollars. Today it's the only available official Distillery Bottling.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: A simple Fruity and Malty Speysider. Pleasant on the Nose and Easy on the Palate and in the Finish. A Bit Grainy and Waxy for my liking. But it's a very nice Entry-Whisky for beginning Whisky drinkers as it kinda builds a bridge between Blended non-peated Whiskies and Speyside Single Malt. It's a bit too expensive for what it offers in my opinion!
Jan van den Ende January 22, 2015
