Whiskypeter Glenshiel 10yo Cask #800928 (46% & Cask Strength)

Whiskypeter Glenshiel 10yo Cask #800928

Region: Highlands

ABV: 46.0%

Price: DKK 349 (£41.00)

This whisky was distilled on 14th November 2011 and matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel until 20th December 2021, where a total of 90 bottles were released. 

Nose

The nose opens with light citrus and vanilla, we're finding diluted lemon juice, melon sweets, vanilla custard between sweet wafers, milk bottle sweeties, orange essence and green grapes. There's a subtle spritziness too, similar to appletiser, ands as we continue to nose we're finding buttery shortbread fingers and wholegrain biscuits. The alcohol isn't too noticeable, it's there but fairly far in the background.  

Palate

The palate opens with sweet apple candy, lemon drops, melon sweets, a bit of butterscotch and vanilla whipped cream. There's a bit of a spirituous note that underlies the palate, a bit astringent however there's a good amount of cask coming through to juxtapose this. We're also finding pear skin, a little cooking chocolate and brown sugar too. The finish is a bit drying, with the younger spirit showing a bit more than we'd like. The mouthfeel is slightly thin, but the reduction to 46% does make this very drinkable.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose has more of a creamier, butterier feel, margarine, vegetable oils, with a lot less fruit coming through than before. It's still pretty sweet, with caster sugar and vanilla fondant icing appearing. There's also something a bit grassier that's appeared. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has similar notes to before, although we're getting less fruit and more vanilla, more butterscotch, and it's creamier also. There's lots of simple sugary sweetness alongside blondies and milk chocolate buttons. 

Conclusion

A light, fruity and sweet malt which has taken on a good amount of cask influence whilst still maintaining a spirit-forward character. It's very drinkable, a little simple but that's not always a bad thing. The reduction has presumably mellowed a lot of the alcohol bite but it's also thinned out the palate slightly. 

Score: 7/10

Value

Good value considering the price of whisky in Denmark is higher than the UK.

Whiskypeter Glenshiel 10yo Cask #800928

Region: Highlands

ABV: 59.5%

Price: DKK 499 (£57.00) 

That’s not a typo in the cask numbers—our second review of the day comes from the remainder of the cask featured in today’s first review. The cask was split into two, with this portion bottled at cask strength.

Nose

The nose opens with fizzy lemonade, peach juice, lime zest and white pepper. The alcohol is fairly subdued, more so than we were expecting for the ~60% ABV, it mostly presents as a light pepperiness in the background. Time and air brings more buttery creaminess, whipped vanilla cream, toffee apples and grape juice. Light and fruity overall with a kick of spice in the background. 

Palate

The palate opens with a mixture of chocolate fudge, creamy vanilla, mild cinnamon notes alongside a bit of bitter cocoa, it's really quite rich. There's also toffee apples, black pepper and grapefruit peel. The palate is quite different from the nose, we're getting a lot more wood and a lot more spice, with butterscotch and a hint of lime zest. The mouthfeel is nice, it's reminiscent of a thick sugar syrup, and the finish lingers for a fair while with mostly chocolate and a little honeycomb.  

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose carries on with an apple and peach-forward scent, alongside some melon and caster sugar. There's still a spritziness here, light and floral aromas, but there's some more vanilla from the cask in the background. Not too much change here. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has a little more citrus up front, and actually some of those orchard fruits are starting to appear now. There's still a lot of caramel and toffee flavours, but a splash of water definitely opens this dram up and gives more character and balance. 

Conclusion

A dram which differs massively between the nose and palate for us. Lots more cask influence coming through after sipping, hiding a lot of the spirit notes. Pleasant enough, it's interesting to see the differences between the cask strength and reduced releases - we slightly prefer this one as there's a bit more going on, but it’s close. 7/10 

Score: 7/10

Value

Like today's other review, this offers good value for what it is.

• 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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