Glen Keith 21 1992 Archives

Thanks to /u/Saba007[ for pouring me this dram.

Glen Keith isn’t exactly at the top of most peoples “saw it at a bar” lists. It’s the first Speyside to be built since the whisky crash of 1898. No, you aren’t dyslexic, that’s the 19th century. And it was mothballed in 1999, left to eventually reopen in 2013. Even after all of that, and having three official bottlings in the 90s (two peated ones under other names), it’s meant to be blended. With those whiskies exported.

What I’m saying is this: Chivas (who owns them) aren’t making Glen Keith the next Brora/Port Ellen. They’re making it the next. No, I specifically didn’t write anything there, because if I said something, we’d recognize it.

Enter Glen Keith 21 1992 Archives, labelled with their always fun and pretty fish photos from the Fishes of Samoa. I know I don’t typically talk about labels, because seriously who gives a flying fuck, however, I always have a soft spot for these fish. Birds and fish that have an amazing, different colouration than what I’m used to (North America, Canada, East side) is something makes me say wow.

But that’s enough gushing about the bottle. You’re not here for that. It’s aged 21 years, from the time when they were bringing out their own OBs. How does it taste? Let’s find out, shall we?

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Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Speyside

Vintage: 10.1992

Bottled: 03.2014

Cask Number: 120599

Number of Bottles: 218

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon

Abv: 51.5%

Colour: 5Y 8/10

Nose: Honey, linen, blueberry, Juicy Fruit

Floral. Very floral. Some fruit comes out, both rich berry notes and some of that fake, whatever-fruit-Juicy-Fruit-is-supposed-to-be-fruit.

Grapefruit? But if it was injected with sugar? Quite fruity and floral nose.

Taste: Juicy Fruit, orange juice, sunflowers, caramel

More of the aforementioned fruit, but the sugar levels are closer to orange juice, or three bites into said Juicy Fruit. Floral continues. Good mouthfeel to it all, nice caramel notes.

Finish: Meyer lemon, sunflower oil, cumin, popcorn

More acidity to balance it all out. Very corn heavy here, nice lightness to it all, and some earthy heat to balance it all.

Conclusion: This is a unique if light dram. Reminds me of some of Chivas’ other whiskies. There’s a lot of sunflowers; floral elements with nice acidity at the end.

Is it something that competes with other 20+ whiskies? Not really. It has a nice mouthfeel and generally tastes good, but I wouldn’t hand it to someone to be wowed by it. It does something we don’t see as much anymore which is nice citrus.

That said, it only does that. Others may have mineral, more complexity, something to pair with it, more spice. This… just did citrus a bunch, in somewhat fun ways, and had some floral aspects. All in all nice to sip on, but I’m looking for a bit more given the stats on the whisky.

80/100

Scotch review #1105, Speyside review #316, Whisky review #1711