Glenkinchie 20 Year Brandy Cask Finish

33 open bottles in my collection ranked through multiple blind tastings. Counting them down! #3: Glenkinchie. Single Malt Scotch. 55.1% ABV. 20 years old. D1990/B2010 Paid $190 If I find another bottle at the same price, I am probably buying it. Glenkinchie ,well-aged and at cask strength, is beautiful. The 24 year old special release, at $400-500 a bottle, I’m not sure is worth it. But if you can find this 20 year old for under $200, this is a recommended purchase. The nose is quintessential ex-bourbon matured scotch with a grassy edge. The palate is amazingly spirit-forward. A green attack of mint, eucalyptus, herbs, and grass. The fruitiness comes from green apples and cucumber. The finish is oaky, dry, and slightly smoky. This is mind-blowingly good, and makes me sad about the Glenkinchie core range, which is pretty uninspiring. MARK: 93/100 PREVIOUSLY, ON BATMAN: #4: Caol Ila Unpeated Style. $173. 55.9% ABV. 17 years old. 93/100. #5: Paul John Peated Select Cask. $84. 55.5% ABV. NAS. 92/100. #6: Redbreast. $96. 43% ABV. 15 years old. 92/100. #7: Yamazaki. $74. 43% ABV. 12 years old. 92/100. #8: Lagavulin. $70. 43% ABV. 16 years old. 91/100. #9: Benromach. $65. 43%. 16 years. 91/100. #10: Talisker Distiller’s Edition. $72. 45.8%. D2000/B2011. 91/100.

Paid $190 for this bottle. This is a bottle kill review. I will try to summarize what this bottle offered. Nose: So green! Green tapioca, underripe fruits, Granny Smith apple, grass. Best utilization of grass notes of any whisky I can remember. Palate: Sweet, as expected arrival, but then there’s an inexorable transition to smoky, spicy dryness. Burning grass. Menthol. Green tea. Finish: Woody, herbaceous. A little mezcal smokiness. Minty too. Decent linger. This can handle some water. Water will smooth out the edges and transitions. Make things taste a little more cooked. Very sad to see this bottle empty. I would love to have another at the same price. Pros: So unexpectedly charismatic for Glenkinchie. A vibrant dram for its age, with a dynamic story to tell. Cons: Bottled in 2010, and limited to 4854 bottles. Probably won’t be able to find these anymore. They aren’t really a collectible, so it’s hard to get even on the secondary market. Mark: 93/100 (range 92-95. N = 7)