Glenkinchie 17 Year Old 1987 Signatory

Glenkinchie is sometimes referred to as the Edinburgh malt, because the capital is only 25 kilometres to the north. I am trying this Lowlander from a bottling by Signatory, in their cask strength collection, distilled on 22 October 1987 and bottled on 13 June 2005, after 17 years on a bourbon cask.

The powerful nose offers mainly Granny Smith apples and lemongrass. Some grain cookies and caramel. Pretty sharp, though. And rather simple, if I may say so. It also has a dusty side. Do not leave it for ten minutes (like I did), for it simply falls apart. Adding water does not improve things. Then it tends to bring out patato peel. Oh, well.

The attack is intense and a whole lot sweeter than the nose. Apples again, skins included, but rather spirity. And a touch of rubber, as if chewing a balloon. I mean it. Let me add some water. Ah, much better! Sweet on toffee and sugared apples in the frying pan.

In the rather long finish, a small bitterness in the form of tannin and liquorice pops up. With water it is all rather okay-ish.

No high flyer, this Lowlander. And it absolutely needs water to become palatable. The nose is a low point, no matter what. Thanks, Jan VC, for the sample.

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