OVERVIEW | Three Glengoyne miniatures in gift box:
• 5 cl Glengoyne 10 Years Old, 40%vol • 5 cl Glengoyne 15 Years Old, 43%vol • 5 cl Glengoyne 18 Years Old, 43%vol
Producer: Lang Brothers Ltd., Dumgoyne, Killearn, Glasgow, G63 9LB, Scotland The Glengoyne Distillery is situated in a wooded valley in the southern Highlands of Scotland close to a small river that flows into the famous Loch Lomond. The distillery, which takes its name from "Glen Guin" or Glen of the Wild Geese, has been producing an exceptional single malt scotch whisky for nearly 200 years. Glengoyne is one of the few distilleries producing whisky in this part of Scotland today. However at the beginning of the nineteenth century it is recorded that at least eighteen whisky stills were in operation in this area.
Glengoyne uses the notoriously low yielding, but famously high quality Golden Promise; the only other whisky to use Golden Promise is Macallan. Usually once germination has taken place the barley dried using the smoke from peat fires which imparts an aromatic smoky flavour to the drying malt. However, the Glengoyne distillery is different as it uses only barley that has been dried using warm air. The crystal clear, soft water - some of it known to have filtered through the rocks of Dumgoyne for 40 years or more - flows almost straight into the distillery before continuing on its way down through the Blane Valley, eventually arriving at Loch Lomond. In passing, it imparts a very delicate flavour to the malt whisky, a lightness complemented by the milder climate of the southern Highlands and the benevolent lee of Dumgoyne's peak, standing guard against the North winds of winter.
The final character of this special malt is affected by the wood of the cask in which it matures. Glengoyne carefully selects Spanish and American oak casks (some of which will have been seasoned with Sherry in Spain before shipping to Scotland) from which this malt slowly extracts unique flavours during the ten years or more in which it is maturing in the distillery's dark airy warehouses. The milder climate of the southern Highlands effects the maturing whisky over time and results in the fresher lighter taste associated with this special malt. |