The Dram - Whisky Blog

The Glen Garioch (pron: Geery) distillery is nestled in the Aberdeenshire village of Oldmeldrum. Tucked away down Distillery Road (where else), the distillery was renovated and reopened in 1997. It'll take about half an hour to drive to from Aberdeen but it is well worth the trip. Out of all the distilleries I have been to this is where I received the biggest welcome. The staff were brilliant and no where else has ever let me taste so many bottlings as well as malts from other distilleries. Even some of the Islay malts that were stored in their warehouse (including the teensiest drop of some sublime Port Ellen) were brought out.

Apart from the 21 year old (which is pushing over £60) the 15 is my favourite of the Garioch stable. Everyone went crazy for the 10 year old release and you'll be lucky to get a bottle these days, but I definitely prefer the smoother and richer 15. It's a lovely honey colour with a malty, floral nose. The taste is sweet and butterscotch like with a pleasant, smooth, woody finish.

Royal Mile Whiskies £24.95
The Whisky Exchange £28.49
Parker's Whisky £27.99

Glen Garioch Distillery Location

August in Speyside can be a rather wet experience. As with anywhere in Scotland, it is far from guaranteed to have sunshine. It was on one such typical dreich day last week that I found myself sheltering under a brolly in Granton-on-Spey wondering how to spend a rather damp morning before a friend's wedding that afternoon. Of course the obvious thing to do in Speyside, in the rain, is to go distillery bagging.

Having already visited Cardhu a few months earlier I decided to try nearby Cragganmore and after following a rather slow procession of holiday makers up the A95 I turned off the main road and found myself winding down a verdant, lush lane to the distillery. Needless to say, it was shut. Whoever decides to close a visitor centre on a weekend at the height of tourist season is a braver man than I. However, Cragganmore's loss was to be Glenfarclas' gain. I've often driven past the sign for Glenfarclas but sadly never had time to stop, so I pushed on a bit further up the A95.

The Glenfarclass distillery has a little bit of an industrial feel to it and is not as quaint or romantic as some others, however the back drop of Ben Rinnes makes a fantastic setting. Sadly I didn't have time to do the statutory tour, but as a consolation I picked up a bottle of Glenfarclas 105 from the gift shop (the real reason for dropping by).

The 105 is a belter of a malt! It's a 10 year old, matured in sherry casks and bottled unchillfiltered at cask strength (60%). The colour is deep and golden, with a nose of fruity Christmas pudding and after the addition of a drop of water you also get a hint of smoky woodiness. The taste has a rich spiciness on the sides of the tongue that is well balanced by the sweet sherry. The sweetness continues into a long finish that is warming and rounded. It tastes like liquid Christmas, perfect for a cold December evening or a wet August morning.

Royal Mile Whiskies £33.95
The Drink Shop £41.89
The Whisky Exchange £35.99

Glenfarclas Distillery Location