Ned here, I'll be your host for February. Brother Rick did a great job, so the pressure is on me now. One of the fun things about doing this is seeing how we bring slightly different interpretations to the concept of Whisky of the Week. I want to try as many different distilleries as I can, but I need a frame work, a place to start so to speak. With that in mind, I plan on trying 4 of the different main regions this month; Lowland, Highland, Speyside and Island.
For Week 5, we will start with our Lowland entrant, a Glenkinchie 12 year old. A Google search did not bring up a Glenkinchie web site in the first couple pages, so I am linking to the information on The Whisky Exchange website. There are many other hits on other web sites if you do a search. This one from Diageo is pretty good also.
Here is a picture of the bottle and box. I know, it is kind of gauche to post a picture from a non-full bottle. It is also paler than this makes it look. The info on the box claims this distillery was founded in 1837.
Enough gabbing, onto the tasting!
Color: Pale gold
Legs: medium to strong
Nose: a delicate aromatic nose, reminding me of some floral scent, maybe roses?
Taste: more of the floral flavor (and stronger on the nose after a taste) with some creaminess. No real smoke, but still a nice complexity. I do not taste the lemon described on the box, but there is more here.
The finish is not very long, kind of drying, but quite pleasant.
I admit to being nervous about this one at the start. According to the flavor map I found on the Whisky Exchange web site, this one is light and delicate of flavor, though not as delicate as the Glenlivet 12. While I agree the flavors are not overpowering, there is a complexity here I did not find in the Glenlivet. A drop of water intensifies the flavor somewhat, but not a huge amount. The blurb on the box recommends drinking as an aperitif or with smoked fish, sushi or scallops. I certainly agree that it would be a fine aperitif, and I would be willing to try it with sushi. Hmm, maybe I will try that for the Super Bowl on Sunday …
I think this would be an excellent first scotch to recommend to people new to single malts. While the flavors are not strong, they are easily enjoyed. I will certainly be bringing this one out again, though probably in the role described above. I liked it enough to pour myself a second little taste. Easier to do since I do not have to share with dad this week.
This may be from the lowlands, but it has high flavor. Also, while the burn is there, it mellows in the mouth afterwards, fading slowly and peacefully like a sunset, leaving the tastebuds ready for the next sip. Drinking this is like running into an old friend unexpectedly. It makes you stop and appreciate it, then lets you get on with things feeling good afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI'd say this is a good bottle to have on hand for general consumption, when you need to bring a litle balance to the universe.
Glenkinchie 12: 1st sip – a belly pounder of alcoholic hit and flavor combined. 2nd sip still a bit strong but the mellow lurkith. 3rd sip the flavor of warmth and wooded things comes through. Tis a whisky for the damp cold of a snowy Virginia evening. Warms the gums and keeps on warming. By now feels a bit buttery on the tongue but still hot cinnamon-like in the mouth. Not sweet but how like the old fashioned cinnamon balls used to be. Ahhh. I hate to add some water to it but, in the name of consistency, a drop! Whoa! Don’t do that.. mouth puckers as one swills around the sip.. but as that settles out, almost a hint of liquorice. I like this one. Will have to visit Ned soon and find the bottle. So I added more water.. Now the creamy taste/texture emerges. Even better. I am beginning to think this blog could be fun!
ReplyDeleteI used up all my creative efforts creating a blog so I could note. I am late to the party because I was in Germany last week but it was good to have something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteI confess to not having Glenkinchie 12 before, and it is my loss. Will have to find a bottle for myself. I agree that it is a pleasant whisky, enough of a taste to remind you this isn't vodka, but not so much to put off the less refined.
If I were lining up a taste test for the new.. this might be my second choice. Start them out even simpler, I am thinking Highland Park here, then a bit of smoke, and then pull out the big guns, Lagavulin.
This first entry puts brother ned on the map. I look forward to sampling his other choices.