Lovely and bright Glen Elgin by Malt Squared
Glen Elgin seems such an average malt, interchangeable with many of its sister distilleries like Glenlossie, Mannochmore and Glen Spey. And still, this has an extra vibrant edge compared to those. This is a malt made with extra care, not in the least because of worm tubs being used in the process, next to clear worts, long fermentation and slow distillation. An unhurried malt for relaxed people, one could say! While reading the newest edition of the Malt Whisky Yearbook (for 2026), I understood that Glen Elgin is silent at the moment. Hopefully the stills will indeed fire up again in 2027, with some new materials in place, including the replacement of some stills and washbacks. There is in any case enough Glen Elgin on the market, it being somewhat of the darling of the independent bottler. Such an example we have in the glass.
Glen Elgin 14 years old, vintage 2011, bottled at 56,6 % abv by Malt Squared
First things first: Bottled in 2025, this Glen Elgin matured in bourbon hogshead # 804848 and yielded 281 bottles. We know the bottler from these extreme Lindores expressions.
Upon Sipping: Ah yes, the typical fresh and fruity Glen Elgin nose. After some breathing, a hoppy note emerges from the grasslands, and some nice layers of vanilla. The vanilla is much more pronounced on the tongue though, with hot oaky spices, empowered by the high abv on this one. Still, very creamy and warming, with candy (gummi bears) and some lemon. This Glen Elgin has no problem with swimming, so we drop in a few dashes of water. The nose turns a bit more grassy, but remains more or less the same, but on the palate the attack has sweetened. Lots of honey now, while the fire has been put out. There is more room for some orchard fruits, leaning mostly to grapefruit and yellow apples.
Word to the Wise: Is there such a thing as a benchmark for the 85-points whisky? I think this could be eat. Clean, cream, nothing we haven’t seen, but oh so fulfilling.
Score: 85 points.