Glendalough 13 Year Old

This new distillery, founded in 2011, can be found in Wicklow. That’s some 25 kilometers sourth of Dublin. I will try their 13 Year Old, selected for the fact that this is an unlucky number. I guess they are not superstitious at Glendalough… Anyway, this is a purchased whiskey of course, as they have not been around long enough to have their own 13 years old malt. It is a touch more pale than its younger brother.

The nose is more fresh than that of the 7 Year Old. Lemongrass, pineapple, pear drops and a hint of nuts. It even has a bit of… sweat… no kidding. Mildly burnt sugar keeps it sweet. Honey and loads of barley. Meringue with lime! Guava! Very good, in fact.

It starts off quite fruity on the palate on banana, guava and citrus, but soon some drying cedar wood and green tea kicks in. Some nuts, but not very outspoken. Melon too. Cinnamon. Goes from creamy to somewhat astringent, but never of the top.

I get quite the herbal touch in the medium long finish, upholstered with some banana before it dies a mildly bitter death.

Much more to my liking than the younger version, but also half more expensive. Around 70 EUR.