ABV: 50.5%
Worth: $70
Type: Single Malt Scotch
Origin: Scotland
Our annual Prime 20 Whiskies checklist is all the time stuffed with A-list names, together with a number of lesser-knowns that make the grade. However it’s uncommon for one of many latter to outshine all the area, but that’s exactly what occurred this yr, as Whisky Advocate’s panelists plucked a relative unknown from a gaggle of big-name contenders. As we tasted, little did we all know there was an upset within the making. Successful in an almost unanimous vote, single malt scotch Glenglassaugh Sandend turned our 2023 Whisky of the Yr.
Glenglassaugh Distillery is located on the north coast of Scotland, perched upon excessive floor overlooking the North Sea. The whisky is usually described as a “coastal” Highland malt, which appears a good evaluation. This non-age assertion expression, named for the bay offshore, is vibrant and delicate, with aromas of citrus and minerality resulting in a luscious palate stuffed with layers of taste revealing peach, apricot, honey, pound cake, and vanilla, all accented with a contact of sea salt. Rolling spices assist create an explosive, long-lasting end. It’s light but advanced, however above all it’s a straightforward sipper you may simply sit again and luxuriate in. And at $70, it represents fairly truthful worth for a single malt scotch.
Why is Glenglassaugh so little recognized? Primarily as a result of it has spent extra time being closed than open in its practically 150-year historical past. Based in 1875, it was shuttered in 1907 for 53 years. It then reopened just for transient intervals earlier than closing in 1986, this time seemingly for good. However in 2008 Glenglassaugh was bought by an investor group that restarted manufacturing, and it subsequently was acquired by Jack Daniel’s proprietor Brown-Forman in 2016. It nonetheless hadn’t been heard from a lot till lately, as a result of shares wanted replenishing. However now Glenglassaugh is able to roll, and judging by this stellar launch, persistence is being rewarded in spades. —David Fleming
