Editor’s Note: This whisky was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Diageo North America, a goliath in the spirits world, has released their 2023 Distillers Edition line up here in the United States. This is an annual release from their portfolio of brands, and this release focuses on their Scotch portfolio. They take a brand’s standard offering (like Lagavulin 16-year) and double-mature that whiskey in different casks to illicit a new take on the old standard.
This year’s collection crosses four main distilling regions: Speyside, Islay, Highlands, and Lowlands. Only Campbeltown is missing. The distilleries include: Lagavulin (Islay), Talisker (Islay: Isle of Skye), Cragganmore (Speyside), Oban (Western Highland), Dalwhinnie (Highland), and Glenkinchie (Lowland).
Each expression has a revered legacy in the Scotch world with an expansive history to match. Diageo produces one batch of these whiskies per year. This year Diageo has curated the release with an extra step by designing unique labels for each bottle encompassing stylistic elements of each distillery and the core expression used.
“We’re proud to introduce the latest Distillers Edition line-up, a collection created to celebrate some of Diageo’s finest Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and their distilleries,” says Hannah Todd, Director of Single Malt Whiskies Portfolio at Diageo. “The collection has a long history dedicated to its aging process and craftsmanship, making it the perfect gift to commemorate special moments with. Whether celebrating a holiday, gifting a loved one, or toasting to a special occasion, the Distillers Edition collection has a liquid for every type of person in your life.”
This review will focus on the Glenkinchie 12-year-old core expression finished in Amontillado casks. The Whiskey Wash reviewed the 2021 Distillers Edition, that review by Ian Arnold can be found here. Amantillado is a wine produced from fermenting Grape Must. Grape Must is the juice of freshly pressed grapes including skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. A type of sherry wine Amantillado is famously light and smooth in the mouth with well-balanced acidity; described as complex while giving way to dry finishes and lingering aftertastes of nuts and wood.
Glenkinchie is one of the few remaining lowland Scotch distilleries. Although with the rise in Scotch popularity more lowland distilleries are in development or reopening. There is only the 12-year-old expression of this Scotch, which is something I find very interesting. The distillery has 1 wash and 1 spirit still producing around 2.7 million liters of liquid a year. Which makes it the lowest producing distillery of this series. The Lowland style is strongly associated with grain and blended style of Scotch whisky. Characteristics of the region are malty with soft body without the smoky peat flavor.
Once again, this expression is effectively the same as 2020 and 2021. I am a little disappointed Diageo didn’t try a different finishing cask for this expression. I am not a distiller nor a master blender. At best I’m an armchair enthusiast, but I am a little disappointed this is essentially the same whisky with a different package. With that we turn to the glass.
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Tasting Notes: Glenkinchie Distillers Edition 2023
Vital Stats: 12-year-old finished in Amontillado cask, 43% abv, SRP $85.
Appearance: light summer straw
Nose: This immediately reminded me of a white wine like a Chardonnay. The sweetness and buttery notes were very forthcoming with just ghost of tart grape. Pushing past the wine you find green apples, honey and white sugar, and just the faintest reminder of charred oak at the end.
Palate: Oak char combined with green grapes. Chardonnay and green grapes wrapped in some pepper that is tangy and tart. There is an underlying sense of white sugar sweetness, not synthetic but nearly. The taste gives way to a lingering charcoal feel that has whisps of the lingering white wine.
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