Distillery Sessions: The Glenturret
On a balmy June evening last week, we gathered a selection of our whisky enthusiast clients in the apt surroundings of the London Scottish House for a cask-to-glass journey. Guided by Ruaridh Jackson, former Scotland international rugby union player turned Market Manager for The Glenturret, discover below all that we tasted throughout the evening.
Upon Arrival…
In keeping with the UK-based nature of this event, our Great British evening started with a welcome glass of 2018 Wiston Blanc de Blancs. Crisp, delicious and refreshing – exactly what was needed as the mercury began to climb last week. After an introduction to The Glenturret Distillery by Ruaridh (read more about it here) we began tasting.
“At The Glenturret, where tradition meets perfection, each drop of our whisky is a testament to centuries of craftsmanship”
The Glenturret New Make Spirit
We began at the source: The Glenturret new make spirit. At 63.5% ABV, small measures of this crystal-clear liquid were poured for our guests to sample. Ruaridh explained how this spirit forms the foundation upon which every cask’s character is built. With a floral, fruity character, one of our astute guests noted how the new make spirit even shares a resemblance with Schnapps. Undoubtedly, The Glenturret’s new make spirit is a strong starting point that embodies the essence of what the distillery stands for.
The Glenturret 5-Year-Old
Next came a 5-year-old expression from The Glenturret. Young, but with plenty of character, this bottle perfectly demonstrated the transformation from new make spirit to official, classified whisky. Matured for five years in European oak casks before being bottled at a strength of 46% ABV, this Highland single malt was beautifully smooth and showed the first hints of spice from its time in oak.
The Glenturret 12-Year-Old
Presented in stunning Lalique-designed glass bottles, the next two whiskies were impressive to say the least. We were served a dram of The Glenturret 12-year-old; a significant step up in both age and character, this whisky is considered to be the heart of The Glenturret’s core range. Balanced and expressive, drams were emptied and refilled as The Glenturret’s commitment to excellence became clear; from their small batch distillation and hand-operated mash tun, to the expertise of Master Distiller Bob Dalgarno. Tasting notes on the 12 included rich, caramelised citrus fruits, baking spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as soft wood spices and light vanilla.
The Glenturret 25-Year-Old
Then came the evening’s pièce de résistance. The 2023 release of The Glenturret 25-year-old brought the room to silence, as Ruaridh explained how this milestone whisky was created from six casks stowed in The Glenturret’s traditional Dunnage warehouses (thick walls and an earthen floor help create higher humidity levels) for a quarter of a century. Each sip showed us how this whisky has had the benefit of time, and as Ruaridh said, “whisky is a patient person’s game.” This complex single malt was the favourite of the evening for many, with an incredible nose and palate of aromatic ginger, sultanas and apples with a sprinkling of demerara sugar on freshly baked pastry. Truly a whisky unlike any other.
Between pours, Ruaridh regaled us with the distillery’s history, its rebirth under new ownership with the Lalique Group, and the guiding philosophy that marries heritage with innovation. We cannot thank Ruaridh and The Glenturret team enough for collaborating with us on our first whisky tasting event, and we hope to see many more of you at our next one.