I have a couple more of these ultra-expensive whiskies to review and post up here. (Sorry.) Then, I’ll come back down to earth and focus on more mainstream products.
Glengoyne, 40 year old, 45.9%, $5,730
Aged in sherry butts, which is a departure from some of the older Glengoyne vintage samples I currently have which show more American Oak (ex-bourbon) characteristics. This is a very fruity, spicy, textural dram, with spiced apple, red raspberry, strawberry, plum, golden raisin, fried plantain, and crème brulee. Good grip on the finish, with grape stems and warming spice (cinnamon, cracked peppercorn, and clove). I love the balance on this whisky. It has aged very gracefully. (Limited to 250 bottles worldwide.)
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 94
no need to apologize john – even though i can’t/won’t buy whisky such as the above, i (along with others i’m sure) like to know what is out there. of course, the ironic thing is some of these ultra expensive whiskies are no better (in your ratings and the ratings of others) than whiskies most of us can afford – fancy bottles aside. let’s see, NINETY bottles of the latest William Larue Weller from the BTAC or the bottle above? =)
Just a few months ago, a store near me was selling the 30 year old, a high proof cask strength, for 125-30$. I had other things to buy so I didn’t bite. Did you ever try that one?
Talking about statistics….it sure is more probable to get hit by thunderbolt than tasting this whisky.
So if you think of all these jewel whiskies you have had the opportunity to taste all these years i would be very careful when getting out of my house if i were you!
Just kidding of course.Keep up the good work and bring some mainstream whiskies as a christmas gift for your fans after finishing with all these.
Red, was there a vintage on that bottle?
Maltakias, will do! And I’ll make sure I don’t go outside during thunderstorms.
The memory escapes me, John. Oh well.
JWC…or TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY BOTTLES of this season’s Evan Williams Single Barrel, rated in the same neighborhood.
Yeesh!
sam – you are absolutely correct! but again, the bottles aren’t as pretty =)
speaking of the evan williams single barrel, i’ll be picking up a few bottles on saturday. so far, all the reviews i’ve read have it rated very high but they all note that it came from barrel no. 1 – i’m hoping that the other barrels are similar.
John, is the color accurate on this bottle? If so, I think that six of these would look perfect on a shelf in my newly remodeled vomitorium, which I just re-finished with the paneling from John Thain’s former office.
Red and John, you may be referring to the Glengoyne 29 yo, which was bottled at 52.5% vintage 1967. I bought one several years ago for the price range you noted. There were also several mid-late 1960s Christmas day distillations in this age and price range, I picked up one of these, another 1967 for around $140 a few years ago. You could buy a nip of this at Keene’s whisky bar in NYC last time I was there. All excellent whiskies, Glengoyne IMO is a rather under rated distillery and their releases have been very good under their newish management.
Euan, my sample (100ml) didn’t look that dark. But bigger volumes do look darker.
[...] “whiskies I’ll never drink” kick, here’s John Hansell’s review of a Glengoyne 40. Let me also use this as an opportunity to promote once again an excellent editorial John wrote [...]
Another ugly, ugly bottle. Why does every whisky of that age and price tag end up in something that would embarass a perfume?