Glengoyne has been putting out some interesting expressions lately, and I recently had the chance to sit down with two of them. On one side, we have the White Oak, a combination of bourbon and virgin oak casks. On the other, a travel retail exclusive matured in Pedro Ximénez casks. Both are presented naturally, unchill filtered with no added color, and bottled at a respectable 48% ABV. This shared presentation makes for a fascinating comparison, so I decided to put them to the test to see how they truly stack up.
The White Oak presents a very fresh and inviting profile. On the nose, I found a lovely mix of powdered sugar, sweet red delicious apple, and a touch of vanilla with some underlying malty notes. It’s a clean and pleasant aroma with nothing off-putting. The palate delivers on this promise. It has a nice viscosity and very little heat, with those apple and vanilla notes carrying through clearly. The pleasant surprise for me was a tropical fruitiness on the back end, specifically a very ripe, fresh peach note. It’s an excellent whisky to open up your palate, making it a great night starter for an experienced drinker.
The travel exclusive PX cask offers a completely different experience. To be honest with you, when this bottle was first opened, the nose had a distinct matchstick or sulfur note. After a few months of being open, however, that has mellowed considerably. What remains is more dessert-forward than a traditional Glengoyne, with cooked down red fruits and sweet cherry notes. It’s one of those rare occasions where the palate actually outperforms the nose. It’s incredibly smooth with nice sweet and fruity notes, great viscosity, and virtually no heat.
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In the end, I gave both of these whiskies the exact same score: an 86. They are both excellent bottles that I would happily buy, but they serve entirely different purposes. The White Oak is a versatile and refreshing dram, perfect for starting an evening or including in a tasting flight. The bolder, sweeter PX Cask is more of a dessert whisky, something you would enjoy on its own after a nice meal. Both are well worth the price and showcase Glengoyne’s versatility. Which of these two very different Glengoyne profiles sounds more appealing to your palate?
For a more detailed breakdown and to see the whiskies for yourself, watch my YouTube video.
