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Little Brown Dog Aberdeenshire Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

Can an indie bottler’s first core release rival distillery staples? This Little Brown Dog 12yo Glen Garioch Batch 1 review answers it.

OVERALL RATING

7
$67
  • Jeff, a UK-based whisky reviewer with a lighthearted approach.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Aberdeenshire based Independent bottlers Little Brown Dog have launched their first core release, a 12 year old single malt distilled at Glen Garioch Distillery. Produced near the company’s headquarters, batch 1 is a recipe of 60% first-fill bourbon barrels and 40% Oloroso and PX sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and is non chill filtered.
Appearance:
A natural light caramel colour.
Nose:
The first nose is very biscuit driven with a a musty raspberry fruit tea to dunk it in. A sweet and slightly artificial notes with Palma violets, fresh from the tin fruit cocktail and a hybrid of yellow and green starburst sweets.
Palate:
A warming oily texture carries plenty of orchard fruits, honey and stewed blackberries. The abv is present and feels slightly higher than the 46% stated, providing a rich and satisfying tingle with each sip. The sherry influence provides a mixture of mulled wine and mead with spiced plums, bitter honey and citrus slices.
Finish:
The finish is quite intense and bitter like high quality dark chocolate with lasts for a long time slowly becoming more subtle leaving a trace of butter and ever so slightly burnt custard.
Comments:
In the modern whisky landscape, independent bottlers often bridge the gap between great liquid and fair pricing for whisky enthusiasts. This core range release is an exciting step to have a greater shelf presence and this Batch 1 is a very strong start for LBD. While not the most complex or rugged it is a wonderfully well rounded, high quality single malt that can easily go toe to toe with official core expressions at the same price point.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Pete "Jeff Whisky" Jeffery

Based in the South West of the UK, Jeff brings an irreverent and laid-back approach to whisky reviewing, dispelling any notions of snobbery surrounding the spirit. With a genuine enthusiasm for exceptional drams, he often embraces the whimsical side of whisky. Jeff's tongue-in-cheek whisky content has earned him recognition in the Malt Whisky Yearbook, and he has contributed articles and reviews to numerous whisky platforms.

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