23/10/2026 Glen Garioch

19.116 13yo 2012/2026 Home for a Christmas Sherry (58.7%, SMWS The Winter Series 2026, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill American Oak ex-Oloroso Hogshead): nose: drinks cabinets, lacquered wood, oiled mahogany and polished brown shoes, open bottles of brandy and liqueurs. It also has a spray of furniture polish on hazelnut shells. We detect one overripe strawberry too, as well as melted dark chocolate slowly blending with a melted soap bar. It changes a little at second nosing to become more farm-y. We are now in an orchard, and that orchard is next to a cows' pasture, complete with with cow dung and bovine occupants. Lacquered wood comes back, eventually, more discreet than it was. Mouth: lacquered wood upon which overripe strawberries have come crashing down. Chewing loads the strawberries up with fruit eau-de-vie of one sort or another. A faint metallic note shows up, heated tin, which adds a tame bitterness that one could possibly relate to coffee, even. The second sip is very neutral, at first, then turns into eau-de-vie after chewing. A fruit eau-de-vie with hay macerating in it. A timid note of vanilla pudding tries to make itself heard. Finish: light and fruity, it has fruit eau-de-vie indeed (plum, raspberry, Mirabelle plum), warming and pleasant. It retains a soft metallic edge in the finish, though that may as well be baked cucumber peels or geranium stems. In any case, it is original. The second gulp hits a little harder and tickles the gums for longer. Freeze-dried raspberry slices, rehydrated by dunking them in plum eau-de-vie. As was the case on the palate, a note of hay slowly appears and leaves a dry and softly-bitter taste. Retro-nasal olfaction picks up apple brandy, or stewed cider. Good drop. 7/10