Glenglassaugh 15 Year Old - 70cl/46%

Distillery History:
Glenglassaugh sits on the Highland coast at Sandend, built in 1875 by James Moir, silent for long stretches and restarted in 2008. It joined the BenRiach group in 2013 and Brown-Forman in 2016. Rachel Barrie is master blender, also for Glendronach and BenRiach. The house style is coastal fruit. The core line includes Sandend, Portsoy and the 12-year-old. The 15 is the newer permanent bottle.

Whisky Introduction:
At least fifteen years in Pedro Ximénez and Spanish wine casks. The house stresses PX dried fruit and sun-sweet wine wood over coastal salt. 46%, natural colour. Versus the 12, grain is quieter and chocolate and coffee are thicker; versus sister Glendronach, sea salt and tropical fruit still show.

Tasting Notes:
Nosing: Chocolate sauce, salted caramel, Spanish orange and date.
Palate: Salted treacle, caramelised date, papaya, chocolate and coffee.
Finish: Dried fruit, cocoa and a thread of sea salt.