Glenglassaugh 40-year-old

Overall rating
93.01/100
votes
81
Whiskybase ID
WB55782
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
2013
Stated Age
40 years old
Number of bottles
800
Strength
42.5 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Added on
19 jun 2014 9:02 am by Hare&Copper
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength

Average value

€ 1950.52

35 × in wishlist

81 × member ratings

69 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Glenglassaugh 40-year-old

6 users have left 6 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 93.01 points.

  1. Andytka3 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    1551) Glenglassaugh, 40YO (2013)
    A special gift from a fellow dram-er that I tucks away safely in the cabinet for few years. A staggering 40YO from a remote coastal distillery.
    • Nose
      N- After 40years of slow nurturing in the casks, this one need times and patience to let it breath to reach fullness in the glass. Stiff and restricts at the beginning as anticipated, but affection grows with the arrival of natural fine dates and raisins oak fragrant. Strawberry fondant, semi moist coarse sugar coated dehydrated nutmeg and apricot, bright liquorice shines at tail. (93/23)
    • Taste
      P- Pronounce oak influence the liquid with doses of black tea, tannin, berries compote with floral essence. Lightly bitterly sweet transit to mellow sourness, and feel more of coffee bean now than black tea. (89/22)
    • Finish
      F- Medium, feel the lack of stamina here. Smooth with substances, chewy ripe tannin without the bites. Age-y dry elegantly. (87/21)

      B/B- 87/21 Perhaps, weakened by the strength. I can imagine I will scores this lower on a blind tasting and not knowing is 40YO.

      Weighted Rate- 88pt, +1 for old malt.

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  3. RoKa scored this whisky 94 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      94 94
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      95 95

  4. Palindrome scored this whisky 93 points Expert Senior

    Appearance: Deep gold.

    Nose: Olorosso in perfectly aged oak beckons: there are Medjool dates, maple walnut ice cream, bananas foster, cracked old leather-bound books, hints of violet–which come and go–raspberries, malted milk balls, an impression of sealing wax…and, last but not least, a phantom note of whole cluster Pinot noir grapes dried in the bottom of a wine glass.

    Palate: Delicate syrups roll over the tongue without feeling oily, almost as though it evaporates in media res. However, there is no alcohol burn. To say this dram is smooth would be something of an understatement. I love how the marriage between oak, whisky, and sherry has been consummated over forty long years–a “beckoning fair one,” indeed.

    The Oloroso influence seems rather dry in the mouth, evoking jammy figs, apricots, plums, rhubarb. Macadamia nuts are cradled by a ubiquitous yet unimposing oak foundation, which isn’t bitter in the least. The sample in my glass is three quarters gone now. As my mouth and brain have grown accustomed to the broth, I’m happy to report lightly roasted coffee beans, along with Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate. There even seems to be a touch of steamed rice milk with almond syrup. Marvelous, just marvelous.

    Finish: Well, the denouement is not what I would call long. In fact, this whisky’s finish is barely medium in length. But a woody-marshmallowy-sweet impression haunts the mouth in the best of ways. I might also add that my dram is really “neat.” By this, I mean to say that a light sprinkling of water does nothing to improve the quality, the depth, or the complexity. Rallfy Mitchell might disagree, with teaspoon in hand, but I really must hold my ground. Lovely stuff–this–at full strength, thank you very much.
    Final Thoughts

    I suppose the main drawback to this Glenglassaugh 40-Year-Old lies in the fact that it doesn’t present much in the way of a challenge. It’s exceedingly agreeable, smooth, and civilized. The finish is medium-short, and sweet as pie. I’ve read about previous 40-year-olds, released by Glenglassaugh, that sounded far more complex, offering everything from hints of metal polish to pineapple glazed ham.

    In other words, there are no savory or industrial influences in this 42.5% bottling. If I were angling to spend upwards of $1,300 on a whisky, I might want a bit more in the way of a challenge. But that’s me. I’m sure that plenty of folks with pockets that deep would rather just sip a delicious dram and think about other things. (Speaking of which . . . in my review of the Springbank 16-Year-Old Local Barley, you will find a discussion of forty-plus-year-old Springbank releases that contain both savory and industrial notes, by the way.)

    I also find it interesting that the Glenglassaugh 40-Year-Old is quite a bit lighter in color than the 30-Year-Old. I guess the younger spirit hails from casks with more sherry left in the wood? Darker isn’t always better, however. That’s worth remembering, especially in a very old spirit that has been allowed to retain a decent amount of distillery character.

    It’s also worth mentioning that Glenglassaugh has released two batches of venerable old single malts. The first batch includes eight whiskies that range from 28 to 45 years old. The second batch also consists of eight releases, this bunch ranging from 36-42 years old. All of them are reputed to be “fruit bombs.” I didn’t see anything on Glenglassaugh’s website, or in any related whisky reviews online, which pointed to much in the way of savory notes, spicy notes, or industrial notes.

    For a distillery that died and came back from the dead more times than I can count, Glenglassaugh sure created a lot of well mannered “offspring.” I’m sure that these bottled spirits are more than happy to “speak their names,” if one holds a glass to one’s ear. They have all the charm of the Belle at the Ball, rather than the Bad Boy who was mothballed.

    As for the secret history of an “undead” distillery, I’m relieved to say that this yarn has a happy ending, thanks to Benriach. Slainte mhath. May the river, the tide, and good spirits, rise with you. I have yet to try any of the younger NAS core offerings, but they seem intriguing. Perhaps one or two might stray into the realm of spicy, savory, and industrial.

    On the other hand, I’m a sucker for older age statement whiskies that cover all three bases, and then tag home plate (sweet). For me, that sort of complexity is a Babe Ruth-style home run, at least when it’s done right. Judging by the reviews I’ve seen of the discontinued 40 Year Old 44.6% offering, that seems to have been the case. The darkly dangerous broth is rumored to contain spices, smoked meats, and plenty of succulent fruits, as well as chocolaty goodness. Ah, well. The grass is always greener. Especially when the late great Jim Murray tantalizes you with 96 points from beyond the grave. That’s right. A past year of his Whisky Bible gave it one of the highest scores of all time.

  5. LordBellamy scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Nose: it starts with a double pack: many tropical fruits combined with a gentle load of Olorososherry. Wine gum, mango, passion fruit, raisins, dried apricot, sweetened peaches and a large portion of cream caramel candies, slightly vinous, the oak is super well integrated and picks up the malt with a great spice (cinnamon and a few cloves and licorice) on the next level. Again and again, something maritime, salty, shines through. Everything is very complex, well interwoven and very harmonious and he is also very strong despite the only 42.5%

    Taste: strong onset, great mouthfeel. Here, the sherry dominates stronger, nutty, almonds, dried fruit, some milk chocolate, oak, cinnamon and liquorice

    Finish: long, it flows like crude oil down the throat, fruity with a lot of marzipan, cherries, the oak is also clear, but not overpowering and above all without bitterness, after a while hazelnuts, and licorice notes are added.

    This nose is strong as a bear, in the taste it decreases a bit, the finish is again really great - 91 points

  6. Kalle Grabowski scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      A fragrance cargo with clear tropical fruits. Then he gets nutty with fine Oloroso sherry. In the background I still find slight notes of churches and vanilla.
    • Taste
      Oily with light fruits and tobacco. Unfortunately, there is something in the taste against the nose.
    • Finish
      Medium long and dry.

  7. barryfox915 scored this whisky 80 points Expert Senior

    Colour: Old gold-amber
    Nose: Smooth, mellow to very mellow, fruity, on
    tropical fruits, mango, guava, some sultanas and a touch of sea spray and
    spices. The fruity flavours are lovely.
    Taste: Sweet, salty, mineral, fruity,
    with lots of tropical fruits, some melon, some wet tobacco leaves as well as
    some smoke. The finish is medium, slightly soapy, bitter and rubbery, on
    tropical fruits, some pear, old wood and some smoke.
    Impression: The nose is
    superb and the combination of salt, smoke and tropical fruits works well on the
    palate, while the finish has an interesting flavour balance.

    http://www.whisky-news.com/En/tasting25.html#Oct28 

     

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