🥃 Glen Garioch

Glen Garioch (pronounced roughly 'Glen Geery') is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in the town of Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire. The official founding date is 1797, and the whisky is known for its waxy, grainy character. The distillery now belongs to the Suntory group through Morrison Bowmore Distillers.

History. The official date is 1797, although there are claims of even earlier legal production that no one has proven. The distillery survived when other eastern distilleries closed, thanks to its blending owners: from 1884 it was owned by the firm J. F. Thompson of Leith, and in 1886 William Sanderson, creator of Vat 69, became a partner, taking full control in 1908. Ownership later changed; today the distillery belongs to Morrison Bowmore Distillers within the Suntory group. Heavily peated whisky stopped being made here in 1995, and in 1997 the distillery restarted in a different style.

How it is made. The malt was originally dried with peat from Pitsligo, and the whisky was smoky. Since the 1990s it has mostly been unpeated, although in recent years small batches have again been made with smoked barley. The distillery has three stills, but only one pair is in use. The washbacks are steel, and fermentation is short, so the spirit has a grainy, spicy base with a waxy, greasy note.

Range. A mature whisky, according to Whiskypedia, becomes thick and oily, with honeyed fruit and heather. Like all Scotch, it must mature in oak for at least three years and have an ABV of at least 40%.

Why this matters to you. Modern releases are mostly unpeated, so do not expect a smoky taste. Check the age and strength on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.