Cadenhead Glen Garioch 12yo Authentic Collection March 2026 & Cadenhead Glen Moray-Glenlivet 18yo Authentic Collection April 2026

Cadenhead Glen Garioch 12yo Authentic Collection March 2026

Region: Highlands

ABV: 55.3%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2013 and bottled in March 2026 for Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection, this release was re-racked into a rum barrel in 2020. Outturn of 246 bottles.

Nose

The nose is initially a little closed off, with dried wood, thyme, pencil shavings, and cheap aftershave. With patience, pineapple, strawberry syrup, and vanilla essence come through. The alcohol spice is minimal given the ABV. Interesting nose, but we’re not getting a lot here that says this is Glen Garioch.

Palate

Much like the nose the palate doesn’t really taste like Glen Garioch to us. We’re finding it very funky, with notes of honey, lavender, Malibu Coconut Rum, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream. The finish is medium in length, with pepper spice taking over from the aforementioned sweeter notes. The mouthfeel is good enough.

Nose (with water)

Dilution brings out mango yoghurt and rum and raisin sweets. The pre-dilution notes are still present, just slightly dimmed behind the newer aromas. The alcohol spice remains minimal.

Palate (with water)

Water brings out cinnamon spice, jasmine, plantain, and foam bananas on the mid palate. The mouthfeel remains the same, and the finish is still medium in length with the sweetness still fading a little too soon.

Conclusion

We would recommend a few drops of water with this, as it opens up both the nose and the palate. That said, it is quite funky and not really what we want from Glen Garioch. We will be the first to admit that rum cask whisky can be a challenge for us, and if that is your thing you will likely enjoy this more, but for us it sits at a 6.

Score: 6/10

Value

Good price given the distillery, cask type and age.

Cadenhead Glen Moray-Glenlivet 18yo Authentic Collection April 2026

Region: Speyside

ABV: 59.0%

Price: £80.00

Distilled in 2007 and bottled in April 2026 for Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection, this single cask Glen Moray was matured in a bourbon barrel. Outturn of 192 bottles.

Nose

The nose feels fairly closed off initially with icing sugar, vanilla custard, lemons, and limes. There is minimal alcohol spice, just a hint of pepper. Returning to it, we find marshmallows, whipped cream, and damp wood. This definitely benefits from a few minutes in the glass.

Palate

The palate opens with citrus, marzipan, icing sugar, and caramel, before a hard to place note appears on the mid palate that puts us off slightly. The finish is a touch spicy and hot, with cracked black pepper. It is fairly simple overall, and pretty much just one dimensional sweetness and spice. We would not have guessed this was Glen Moray.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out honey and sour cherries, along with fudge and more lemon and lime citrus. The alcohol spice remains minimal. The nose has definitely improved with a few drops of water.

Palate (with water)

Water brings out milk chocolate and fudge to join the other notes, but it is still too spicy for us on that medium length finish. The mouthfeel has held up well, perhaps even improved slightly.

Conclusion

Another dram that benefits from water to help it open up. We enjoy the distillery, so this is a bit of a letdown for us. It is okay, but a little simple and drinks more like a 10 year old.

Score: 6/10

Value

While not our favourite dram, we can’t argue that it’s not a good price.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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