Glen Grant 23 Year Old 1985 WIN First Cask

Whisky Import Nederland has been bottling single casks at cask strength for a couple of years under their First Cask label. In that range, this Glen Grant 1985 was released, a 23 Year Old matured on bourbon casks. The driving forces behind WIN are Marcel Bol and Jan Kok, both Keepers of the Quaich, the highest honour in the whisky industry.

The nose is creamy and sweet. Beeswax and almond paste fill my nose. Some brown sugar on a heavily buttered honey cookie. After a few moments, I also get gooseberries and sugared citrus peel. Oranges as well. Hints of pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon. I am impressed.

It is mouth coating and feisty. Vanilla and banana. This is a banana split, blimey! Some more white fruit now. Apple cake. Spicy with ginger and liquorice, but also some mint. Impressive.

The finish is very long, very spicy and warm on white fruit and liquorice.

This is Enjoyment with capital E! A powerful Glen Grant, still available for around 105 EUR.

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