Glen Garioch 1998 PST

Tried from a 2cl sample

Dealer information: Nearly three decades of maturation lend this Glen Garioch an impressive depth and exceptional elegance. A 27-year-old single cask bottling from Thompson Bros., it combines classic Highland characteristics with intense notes of honey, dried fruit, vanilla, and subtle oak spice. Bottled without coloring or chill filtration, this rare release is aimed at connoisseurs of mature single malts and discerning collectors.

Official tasting notes: We recently received a butt of Glen Garioch 1998, purchased blind based on the outstanding quality of previous casks from this vintage and with confidence, as the purchase order specified a 1st Fill Sherry Butt. However, upon arrival and during our routine sensory analysis (someone’s gotta do it), it became immediately apparent from visual assessment that this was not typical of 1st fill Oloroso or PX sherry, as we had initially expected. Instead, the spirit presented pronounced saline notes, followed by chamomile and fresh bread dough – characteristics that strongly suggest this cask is, in fact, a 1st fill Fino sherry butt. We are now highly confident in that conclusion. The combination of distillate, time and oak interplay beautifully here. The nature of buying blind can be a bit risky, but very often those risks pay off in very interesting ways. Nose: Butter madelines, mineraly Chenin Blanc, Williams Pear, Golden Kiwi & Golden Sultana, lemon zest, almonds. Some dough-y notes, more enriched pastry than bread. cinder toffee Palate: Starts very zesty, with flints and minerals. Buttered sourdough, zesty green apples, almond – Ricciarelli biscuits. Lemon juice, green bell pepper, sage butter Finish: Nice acidity with citrus oils and zest. Coconut macaroon, lemon tart and toasted almonds

For a blog in September 2026 comparing this one amongst others to a Samaroli bottling ! Conclusion: "Well, these are the gems among the gems, aren’t they? Such a characterful single malt you will not quickly come across. You need to like weird stuff. I added a bonus point for being so truly different in a field where the differences between single malt seem to narrow. Good pick by the brothers!"

Very light whisky

Funky, salty, slightly mineral fino cask influence, but the Glen Garioch spirit survives