Cadenhead’s Glen Garioch 12yo (Club Bottling) & Lochindaal Cadenhead’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2023

Cadenhead’s Glen Garioch 12yo (Club Bottling)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 56.8%

Price: £60.00

Distilled in 2012, this 12-year-old release was reracked into a Pedro Ximenez hogshead in 2020 before being bottled in 2024. A total of 288 bottles were released.

Nose

Initially, the whisky reveals notes of fudge, raspberries, burnt toffee, almonds, raisins, reduced figs, sultanas, orange rind, gingerbread, cloves, and Amaretto Disaronno. The alcohol is well integrated, with minimal spice, allowing for us to get our noses right into the glass. It's enjoyable to nose, though the character of the distillery is pretty well masked by the cask.

Palate

A hint of menthol, toffee, cherry cola, burnt coffee, milk chocolate, and liquorice initially on the palate. While not too hot, it’s close with a generous punch of aniseed, clove and cinnamon spice. Good mouthfeel, but not spectacular. A little bitter pomegranate lingers as does the other notes. Again, we’re not getting huge amounts of the distillery character, but it’s pleasing enough.

Nose (with water)

Reduced the nose is fairly similar although we are getting strawberry laces, and a little peach now. The distillery character comes out a little as we sit with it, but is still fairly well hidden behind the wood and wine.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has more of that strawberry in the form of jam, but like the nose retains most of the same notes we were getting pre-dilution. Although, the mouthfeel is now a touch thinner, but the trade off is the spice is in better balance. The finish remains a good length. Like the nose a little more distillery character is showing now.

Conclusion

This is definitely one for those who enjoy their sherry bombs. Personally, we find it a tad one-dimensional, but it's certainly a good dimension to have.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Like most club bottlings, this one is a bargain.

Lochindaal Cadenhead’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2023

Region: Islay

ABV: 53.2%

Price: £40.00 (20cl)

53.2% Distilled in December 2007 and matured for 15 years in a Chateau Climens hogshead, this whisky was bottled in May 2023. A total of 1,015 bottles were released for the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2023.

Nose

Initially a bit tight, the nose gradually opens up to reveal notes of wet pebbles, gammon, burnt toast, dried earth, kippers, orange marmalade, and peach cobbler. Upon revisiting, additional aromas of frazzle crisps, proving dough, sea salt spray, peanuts, and green apples become apparent.

Palate

The palate is very peat-forward, featuring flavour’s of bacon, orange, petrol, sugar syrup, brine, pear drops, and charred wood. The alcohol, sweetness, and peat are very well balanced. The mouthfeel is good, though it lacks a certain something. The finish is of good length, with all previously mentioned notes lingering.

Nose (with water)

With water added, the nose shows less peat and fewer of those frazzles, with more notes of cashew nuts, lemon juice, ginger, burnt toast, and warehouse must. Overall the nose retains many similar notes, but their intensities shift.

Palate (with water)

With water added, the peat diminishes, giving way to more sweetness, reminiscent of orange fruitellas, caramelised sugar, and vanilla. The mouthfeel becomes slightly thinner, and the finish looses a little length. At 15 years old, it still packs a fair amount of peat, but this is well balanced by a nice hit of sweetness.

Conclusion

This is one of the better Loochindaal whiskies we've tried, and we've had quite a few. It's just a shame there isn't more available. We're torn between giving it an 8.5 and an 8.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

£40 for a 20 cl bottle feels a bit pricey, but it is cracking whisky.

• 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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