This is the first red wine Glen Elgin we have seen. Glen Elgin has a sweet, glazed doughnut vanilla character about it and somewhat underrated as a lesser known Speyside whisky.
Nose: Both earthy and fruity; raspberries, black cherries and a fragrant floral bouquet.
Palate: Oily in texture with tannic leather, truffle and coffee balanced by tart summer red berries, figs and heather.
Finish: Medium finish, old tannins, cloves and liquorice.
Fruitiness is the key to Glen Elgin’s character – a lush fruitiness at that – which is achieved through clear wort, long fermentation and slow distillation in its six stills to clean out sulphur, but then condensing takes place in worm tubs which adds weight and complexity. Complicated stuff.
Little surprise perhaps that Glen Elgin has been a major contributor to blends, White Horse in particular (there was a legendary 12-year-old exclusive for Japan which heavily promoted the White Horse link on the label). It was a member of Diageo’s ‘Hidden Malts’ range which appeared, briefly, at the start of the Millennium before being dropped in favour of the higher-volume Singleton family. As a result, it remains a minor cult among malt aficionados and is revered by blenders.
Located in the strangely-named hamlet of Fogwatt, Glen Elgin’s early years were somewhat precarious. It started production in 1900 just as whisky was entering one of its periodic slumps and promptly was mothballed twice before being sold in 1906. It joined DCL in 1929 and was licensed to White Horse Distillers. Electricity only arrived at the distillery in 1950. Up until then it was operated by paraffin.
About Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh blends, bottles, and crafts a comprehensive range of unique Scotch whiskies. Located in Leith, Edinburgh, they operate a fully bonded warehouse that serves as a creative space for developing distinctive whisky expressions. A brand by Eastlin Alba Ltd, Woodrow's specialises in single-cask, cask-strength whisky. Offerings include the Warehouse Reserve and Warehouse Blend, which exemplify their commitment to quality and innovation.
