Region – Highlands – 59.3% ABV
I consider myself lucky with the fact that I’ve had the supreme honor and pleasure to spend time with Mr. Stuart Nickerson, Managing Director of The Malt Whisky Company. I first met Stuart when he was with Glenglassaugh and I was starting my own independent bottling company. It was right around this time, as well, that I was doing a fun series of interviews on this blog and Stuart was nice enough to say “yes” when I asked if he would mind me interviewing him.
To check out the interview, click here.
As you’ll read from the interview, Stuart has had quite a history in Scotch whisky and he continues to make history now with his latest venture, The Malt Whisky Company. Additionally, Stuart has become the Executive Director at Tipperary Boutique Distillery.
For more details on The Malt Whisky Company, click here.
On to the whisky at hand:
Here we are, Dec 2nd. Yesterday we had a 15yo single sherry cask bottled by A.D. Rattray and today we’ve got an NAS, cask strength Sauternes matured Glenglassaugh which has been bottled at 59.3% ABV.
While NAS, the ABV tells me that this is likely some younger juice. This does not worry me one bit. Young whisky is where it’s at for me.
On the nose — Yup, smells like some lovely, youthful, Glenglassaugh. Nice minerality on the nose. Followed by layers of fresh apricots, golden raisins, cooked pecans, and perhaps a touch of wet paperboard.
The sauternes cask influence is quite clear here and offers a richness that compliments the youthful qualities such as clear notes of fresh cut pear, fruity floor cleaner (the kinds that smell so good you want to drink them but don’t because that’s just crazy, and it’d make you sick. I mean, what were you even thinking?!)
In the mouth — Incredibly sweet and as dense as a sticky bun. With time you can pick it apart, and when you do, I hope you’ll find: apricot jam, crushed filberts, olive oil spiciness toward the back of your throat, and honey over pears. The mouthfeel is oily as heck.
Finish — Rich apricot sweetness that lasts quite a long time. Green peppercorns dance on the tongue for a time, too.
In sum — The flavors are so tight here, you really need a good 30 minutes to pull it all apart. This is a thinking wo/man’s dram, no doubt. You do not want to just toss this one back. Spend time with it, reveal its secrets. You’ll be happy you did.