Glen Elgin SMWS 85.45 “The lemon rocket ship”

Thanks to Tim W. for the sample.

This is a mystery review, done back in December (I’m trying to catch up people, I’ve been sick twice these past three weeks and slipped on the ice recently and injured myself, it has super sucked) as part of an Advent Calendar of mysteries. We’re onto Day #22 of mysteries that were poured for me, one per day.

Did I write them up one per day? No, I was still catching up. It’s like I’m Sissyfuss, but I really enjoy boulder rolling. I mean, if boulder rolling was as fun as drinking and reviewing, then writing about, whiskies of all types, then the Greek Gods were utter garbage at punishments. I’d be giving fire away more often than a hip hop artist on the corner.

So let’s get back to pushing this particular rock, shall we?

Price: Sold out

Region: Speyside

Date Distilled: 25th October 2007

Age: 8-years-old

Cask Type: First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Outturn: 210 bottles

Abv: 61.8%

Colour: 7.5Y 9/6

Nose: Vegetal, lemon, basil, caramel, wintermint gum

Starts out quite earthy. Some acidity to balance that out comes together as minty, adds in some depth.

That said, if you’re looking for the spice or smoke side of peat in the nose, that is missing. It’s definitely ex-bourbon cask. Nice strong flavours.

Taste: BBQ, caramel, lemon, apple, anise, vanilla

More smoke now. More caramel, more lemon, and the spice I was looking for before. Nice fruit to it.

I’m kinda lost on this. It is nice but simple. There are some big strong flavours to it. But they only play at complexity. So has it laid down a long time and not really developed, or it’s really young and almost punching up. Or at the verge of punching up.

Looking back, I really should have guessed that. Oh well, I’m not perfect, I forgive past me.

Finish: Peat, caramel, sausage, spruce, coffee

And here we have the peat, meatiness, and coffee notes. Again we see something with these big, strong flavours that nearly go there. Sausage, for instance, is really complex. What kind of meat? What spices were used? Is it feminine and how is the mouthfeel?

We can’t really answer those questions at all in this case. It’s just kinda there.

And if you’re wondering why I didn’t use coffee or peat, then you haven’t been reading my dick joke filled reviews and shame on you.

Conclusion: Lots of peated elements, mixed with acidity. Feels a bit young but certainly makes up for it. It’s certainly punching above its weight, but I also feel like it was pulled early.

As this is the second Glen Elgin I’ve had (that wasn’t in a blend) I give myself a pass on not guessing it. It’s really tasty and drinkable. It’s certainly lighter in peat than others. Heck, I don’t even know if they peat. Let me check. Okay. Nothing overtly saying they do on some of the major places. So I don’t know.

If you’re looking for a slightly peaty acidic dram that has a good strong backbone to it, then this is for you. If you’re looking for something with more, the last one I had (another SMWS) was a lot better and had more time to be tastier. I’d dare say they shouldn’t go any younger, but keep using the first-fill ex-bourbon barrels.

77/100

Guess: Peated Arran?

Actually: Glen Elgin SMWS 85.45 “The lemon rocket ship”

Scotch review #1079, Speyside review #299, Whisky review #1680