Glenglassaugh Distillery Releases A Pair Of New Scotch Whiskies

The Glenglassaugh Distillery, as we’ve noted in the past, is one of those rather fascinating Scotch whisky makers which quietly puts out high quality spirit that you rarely hear about. It has a long history, being founded in 1875, closed in 1907, re-opened in 1960, mothballed again in 1986 and finally opened yet again in 2008. Acquired by the folks behind BenRiach, who in turn were later acquired by Brown-Forman, this is a place still on the sleeper side of the industry. It is thus rather interesting to bring to attention the announcement recently of two new bottlings from here, the second from a line up we last heard of back in 2016.

The Glenglassaugh Octaves, Batch 2, as they are being called, are drawn from octaves, a smaller type of whisky cask (around 65 liters in size) that’s are sometimes made from the wood staves of other used casks. It is not a format you see incredibly often in the Scotch whisky world, but what can be fascinating about it is how it allows for greater interaction between oak wood and spirit. In the case of this distillery, here’s what’s been produced under the guidance of master blender Rachel Barrie:

• Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic Batch 2 has been carefully chosen, combining Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez and Amontillado Sherry Cask Octaves. Waves of tropical fruit sweetness roll on the palate in balance with spiced coffee and an intriguing oak nuttiness. Of natural cask colour, bottled at 44% ABV and non chill filtered.
• Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated Batch 2, is composed of Glenglassaugh peated malt matured in Bourbon, Port and Oloroso Sherry Cask Octaves. Salted caramel and yellow plum sweetness harmonise with savoury smoke and maple syrup, spiced by cask and sea. Also bottled at 44% ABV, of natural cask colour and non chill filtered.

“As the surf rolls in on Sandend Bay and invigorating North Sea air passes through our coastal warehouses,” said Barrie in a prepared statement, “these two luscious malts are truly a distillation of nature’s elements. Shaped by the rich abundance of land and sea, this fresh duo of Glenglassaugh Octaves encapsulate rolling waves of flavour that intensify and evolve with each and every sip. Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic and Peated Batch 2 are jewels in this elemental distillery’s journey, which I hope you will savour to the full.”

You’ll find more official tasting notes below for your consideration. There was no immediate word on whether or not these whiskies would be coming to the United States.

Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic Batch 2 (£60):

• Color: Deep amber with a burnished copper hue.
• Nose: Breathe in candied pear, mango pana cotta and strawberry sherbet on a base of spiced coffee, freshly sawn wood and peanut candy crunch.
• Palate: Sip smooth velvet waves of jellied sweets and chocolate caramel followed by a burst of mango, pineapple cubes and cedar wood.
• Finish: Savour the intriguingly long finish of citrus spiced coffee, aniseed and peanut brittle.

Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated Batch 2 (£65):

• Color: Bright honey gold.
• Nose: An intriguing balance of sweetness and savoury smoke, spiced by the sea. Salted caramel shortbread gives way to chili chocolate and burning driftwood.
• Palate: Sip apricot, ginger and mango salsa, becoming paprika-spiced yellow plum, layered with barbecue-smoked maple wood.
• Finish: Savour roasted nuts and spiced fruit, as lingering wood smoke carries into the salted maple syrup finish.