Review #606 - Blackadder Glentauchers Raw Cask 31 Year
Glentauchers distillery was mothballed during much of the 1980s - it changed hands from a Diageo predecessor to a Pernod Ricard predecessor, and in late 1989, it was finally reopened for production. This single cask that we're reviewing actually came from some of the first spirit runs after reopening under the new ownership; the distillery started operating in August of 1989, and the spirit in this cask was distilled on August 19th.
Blackadder gives us plenty of information with their Raw Cask bottlings: we know the date of distillation and the bottling month, the age, and the fact that this is not chill filtered or artificially colored. One piece of information left out, however, is the cask type; we know that it's a barrel, but they don't explicitly specify ex-bourbon vs. ex-sherry or some other type. Typically, though, barrels are of the ex-bourbon variety - based on the flavors in the whisky, we're assuming that's the case here.
Blackadder Glentauchers Raw Cask 31 Year
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Available Price: USD 480 (2025)
Age Statement: 31 Years
Strength: 41.3% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled August 19, 1989; bottled April 2021; cask 1154; 215 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 30% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Watermelon and mint - a hint of menthol at times, which is paired with soft polished oak. It's quite pretty; some lighter fruits like grapefruit and orange arrive, a bit of stone fruit like apricot. There's a malty note in the background - soft and musty.
Palate: A medium-thin mouthfeel - not bad considering the low strength, as the long wood interaction has added a nice oily element. It's somewhat mellow, with lots of fruits: orange citrus, pear, watermelon. The complexion is light, and we get some vanilla and chocolatey malt.
Finish: Caramel adds sweetness, and it's balanced by cinnamon spice; fruits of red apple and tropical stone fruit are still plentiful. Oak was more reserved in the palate but builds in the finish, and it brings a nice polished tone; it's a medium-long, if slightly reserved, finish.
Final Note: This is a very pretty Glentauchers - full of sweet, light fruit, especially watermelon, a bit tropical at times. There is an oak influence, but it isn't especially strong considering the 31 years of aging; instead, it's more of a light touch, adding depth and that pleasant polished wood or antique furniture wood note. Great interesting flavors like the mint on the nose as well... there's a lot of complexity here.
Value is well below average, just because single malts with these premium age statements command a high price, and you can get 80% of the flavor for much, much less money. It is a great whisky, though, worth a splurge if it's your preferred flavor profile, or if you're a particular fan of Glentauchers.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.09
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Glentauchers reviews:
Review #585 - SMWS 63.117 'Rich Treasures Soaked in Time' - Glentauchers 34 Year
