Fragrant Drops Glen Garioch 13yo Cask #3374 & Fragrant Drops Glenlossie 11yo Cask #13820

Fragrant Drops Glen Garioch 13yo Cask #3374

Region: Highlands

ABV: 58.2%

Price: £77.95

Distilled on 31 October 2011 and fully matured for 13 years in a fresh bourbon barrel, it was bottled in 2025. The outturn was 209 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with a lovely whiff of tropicality mixed with sweet simple sugars, we're getting pineapples, mangoes in syrup, freshly peeled bananas, a little lemon zest and some candied ginger in the background. There's definitely alcohol here, however it's in no way overpowering, instead giving a warm, slight toastiness to the nose. Going back, we're finding more of the bourbon cask influence coming through with caramel, toffee and whipped vanilla cream. There's a handful of floral, perfumed aromas that appear after a while, but it's predominantly tropical fruit and bourbon cask sweetness. 

Palate

The palate opens with a lovely viscous texture, it's thick, syrupy and mouth coating. This quickly moves into a mixture of citrus, think lemon and lime cordial, toffee and brown sugar sweetness, some ripe banana, a touch of brandy (or maybe brandy snaps), then a lingering tropicality, all of those lovely fresh pineapples, mangoes and even a bit of guava right at the end. Again, the alcohol is present, perhaps a little warmer on the palate than the nose, and it comes through as more of that warm ginger spice with a touch of fresh chili. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has more upfront cask sweetness, vanilla wafers, almond fondant, rich caramels, but with the fruit still present in the background. There's more banana now, but it's been roasted and covered in brown sugar, and we're starting to find a little bit of chopped green apple too.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate loses a bit of the lovely texture, but still manages to deliver a big hit of flavour. More citrus upfront, we're starting to get some tangerine alongside those lemon and lime flavours. It's not as cask forward as we were expecting actually - the fruit is still front and centre, although there's lots of vanilla and caramel sweetness in the background. 

Conclusion

This is the type of Glen Garioch we love, bursting full of the esthery, tropical fruits complimented by rich bourbon cask sweetness. It's fairly typical of the distillery, and this is no bad thing. It can be a bit warm, alcohol-wise, in places, however for us it compliments the whisky in a warming, toasty sort of way.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

A good price for an independent Glen Garioch at this age.

Fragrant Drops Glenlossie 11yo Cask #13820

Region: Speyside

ABV: 58.2%

Price: £67.95

Distilled on 24 December 2013, finished in a fresh Sauvignon Blanc barrique, and bottled on 11 September 2025. It has an outturn of 273 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with a big hit of pear in all forms, both freshly peeled, alongside some pear drop sweets, moving into melon balls and maybe a little mushy apple too. It definitely noses of something a bit more than refill bourbon, the Sauvignon Blanc barrique giving a little funky fruit for us - it's almost like orchard fruits left to ferment for a while. It's a fairly simple, fruit forward nose for us, but with well balanced alcohol and enough character to keep us interested.

Palate

The palate opens with a little appletiser, fresh cut grass, kiwi and freshly opened honeydew melon. The finish lingers on for a good length with more of a sweetened lemon cream and honey flavour. Going back, we're finding a drier palate, not in a bitter or astringent way, but in the way that a crisp, dry white wine would give you - with a handful of gooseberries that start to emerge. The alcohol is nicely integrated, you can tell it's there but it hides behind the flavours that the whisky shows. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose comes forward with similar pear and melon notes, a little white wine vinegar, and a little almond marzipan too. It hasn't changed too much, perhaps a bit more vanilla sweetness coming through, and it feels softer alcohol-wise. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate is a bit zingier, more citrus up front, a little greener, but also with more sour apple and grape flavours. It's a tad thinner on the palate but the alcohol has definitely softened too. We're torn, there's trade-offs with or without water, it's really up to personal preference.

Conclusion

A well done white wine finish - not completely hiding the spirit but instead imparting some additional fruitiness, grassiness and dryness to the dram. It's well made whisky, not the most complex, but no doubt a tasty dram.

Score: 7/10

Value

A little more than we’d like to pay, but Fragrant Drops are usually competitive on pricing, and we’re sure the cost reflects the price of the cask finish.

• 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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