Origin: Lowlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 51.3%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Signatory Vintage Whisky Company
Average price: € 1,000.00
Official website: www.signatoryusa.com
Whisky has more to do with archaeology than one might think. Many distilleries have (re)opened their doors in recent years, but just as many have been closed, or even demolished, after longer or shorter and often troubled lives; from time to time, to the delight of the curious drinker, some bottling emerges like a rare and precious artefact.
This is the case with Glenflagler (also written Glen Flagler), a Lowlands distillery that was active from February 1965 to July 1985 and has now been converted into a warehouse by Inver House Distillers, the owner of Balblair, Balmenach, Pulteney, Knockdhu and Speyburn.
The malt from Glenflagler mostly ended up in Inver House’s in-house blend, Hankey Bannister, but it was sometimes bottled as a single under the name Glen Flagler or Killyloch. It goes without saying that it is now difficult to find. In my case, good fortune meant I managed to come across an independent bottler’s sample.
This is a single cask, no. 228442, released by Signatory in their characteristic dumpy bottle. A Glenflagler distilled on 10 November 1972 and bottled on 26 June 1996 at 51.3%BV, in 255 bottles, at its natural colour and without chill filtration.
Tasting Notes
The color is light gold.
On the nose, the first sensation calls to mind white-fleshed fruit (apple and pear taking center stage), while a lively spiciness of pepper, thyme, and nutmeg immediately defines the contours of the profile. A touch of lavender and a minty balsamic note reminiscent of Brooklyn chewing gum reinforce the herbal dimension, while shortcrust pastry and faint memories of patisserie open up new scenarios, destined to materialize more fully on the palate.
It is on the palate, in fact, that the fruit is enriched with a note reminiscent of a peach and apricot chutney and a citrus side (lemon and citron) that cleanses and refreshes. And it is on the palate above all that a creaminess of vanilla and custard, previously barely perceptible, truly shines. The alcohol strength wonderfully supports the aromas, in a harmonious and convincing picture, with the pepper drying the mouth in an overall long finish, in which the cream takes center stage and the fruit remains somewhat in the background.
Conclusions: A soft and inviting whisky, just as one would legitimately expect from a Lowlander, yet with a substance and character that are hard to find even in the offerings of prestigious distilleries today, and that elevate drinking pleasure to pure enjoyment.
Vote: 89/100