Review #675 - SMWS 85.97 'Walking the Cool Bodegas' - Glen Elgin 12 Year
Glen Elgin, based in the Speyside region of Scotland, is a relatively large operation with a theoretical capacity of about 2.7 million liters per annum of pure alcohol. Despite that size, not much of the spirit is bottled as single malt; instead, most of it is used for blends, especially the White Horse blend.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has quite a few casks from the distillery, though, and Glen Elgin is a regular release from the independent bottler, especially with sherry maturation. That should pair nicely with the heft of the distillate, which is given an oily character by the use of worm tubs for condensation after distillation.
In late 2024, the Society released a pair of single casks from Glen Elgin as a part of their semi-regular 'Distillery Dive' series, which gives us the chance to compare two bottles with similar specifications from the same distillery. This time, it was two 12 year old casks, one finished in an Oloroso sherry cask, and one finished in a Sauternes cask - this is the Oloroso version.
SMWS 85.97 'Walking the Cool Bodegas' - Glen Elgin 12 Year
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Price: USD 130 (2024)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 57.2% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon cask, finished in a first fill Spanish oak Oloroso sherry hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled April 26, 2011; 278 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 90%, and 80% (blind tasting) fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Rich and brooding, quite cask-forward: lots of fig and prune, dark and juicy. There are some earthy and slightly sulphur-like notes; sweeter flavors of fudge, molasses, and Luxardo cherry build. In the background, we get hints of nutty oak, oatmeal, and licorice.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick; this is rich, syrupy, and warming. A big sherry bomb with tons of figs, prunes, raisins, and blood orange; time brings mulled wine, cotton candy, and a bit of strawberry. This is all about the fruits, with just soft oak behind that.
Finish: A hint of sulphur again, along with sugary pomegranate, oranges, raisin, and blackcurrant. There's an interesting combination of overripe strawberries and balsamic vinegar, and a mild oily, savory side in the background. It's a long finish.
Final Note: This is very cask-forward, with only hints of that savory worm tub distillate lingering in the background, especially in the finish. Tons of juicy, sweet fruits - honestly, it tastes more like a PX-matured whisky than an Oloroso-finished whisky. If you're in the mood for a sherry bomb, though, this fits that bill to a tee. Great single malt for its style, but lacking a bit of subtlety and balance.
Value is okay; actually, for SMWS, we think this is one of the better value bottles we've tried recently, as it does fall on the cheaper end of their spectrum. We do also love Glen Elgin with sherry maturation; we think it's worth picking up a bottle with similar specs to try it if you haven't before.
Our Average Rating: 7.9 / 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: 6.19
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 Glen Elgin reviews:
Review #676 - SMWS 85.96 'Walking the Verdant Vines' - Glen Elgin 12 Year
Review #337 - SMWS 85.70 'A Spaniard In Here Lurks' - Glen Elgin 15 Year
