Glenglassaugh Octaves.

Today I was lucky enough to recieve a couple of samples from Glenglassaugh  that have been matured in octave casks.  As we know the Benriach distillery company was the proud owner of this distillery but Brown -Forman has recently acquired this, Glendronach and Benriach distilleries in a full buy out of the company.

I have decided to review both expressions that have arrived in this one review,  these are the ” classic” which is an unpeated version and a peated version.. First up is the classic..

Bottled at 44% abv, this is a limited edition of 2431 bottles.. This is also NCF and natural colour..

 

Nose..  A lovely fresh aroma rises from the glass, full of green apples, plums, peaches, toffee and fresh vanilla pods.. Quite floral with fresh cut grass and candied orange peel. A little oak sits in the background.

 

Palate.. More spicy on the tounge, a touch of pepper and nutmeg, vanilla with fresh apple peel and poached pear and honey.. Again some oak makes an appearance with  hints of almonds and caramel..

 

Finish.. Long and clean with a twist of spice..

 

And on to the peated expression..

Again this is bottled at 44% abv, a limited edition of 1418 bottles, NCF and Natural colour..

 

Nose.. Yes this has peat in it.. First impression is a sweet peat scent, smoke is infused with vanilla and toffee notes, delicate fruit scents rise on the back of the peat while citrus notes and gentle spices battle to get through..

 

Palate.. Very clean with oodles of smokey peat, delicatley floral with a sweetness that plays second fiddle, vanilla and honey are noticeable but the peat is the more dominant master in this dram..

 

Finish.. Sweet peat to the very end..

 

Thoughts.. Both of these drams from Glenglassaugh are extremely enjoyable.. The classic is fresh, clean and ever so drinkable.. The peated expression is dominated by the peat but it is very well balanced out with subtle sweet notes that make it very enjoyable.. Both have good flavours and bold notes that stand out. Both retail at about £45 which makes them both a must try in my book..