Glenglassaugh 12 Year Old Scotch Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

When a brand like Glenglassaugh releases what is essentially a new entry-level run in their line-up or revamps their look, it’s a good guess that the powers that be behind that brand are making a marketing and sales push or repositioning the brand. Something to that effect. Glenglassaugh owner Brown-Forman seems to be doing both, and then some.

The distillery now has a new core range, consisting of this 12 year old single malt, plus two no age statement single malts that will be reviewed in the near future. This is atop their release of ultra-aged expressions like the 46 year old that was my Top Pick of 2023.

The pedigree here is pretty straight forward. Glenglassaugh was reopened following a 22 year hiatus in 2008, so a 12 year old whisky avoids the substantial gap in the distillery’s inventory by a comfortable margin. The malt was drawn from a mix of ex-bourbon, ex-Sherry and ex-red wine cask stock, aged for at least twelve years and bottled at a rather hefty (for Scotch whisky) 45% ABV.

The Scotch
The malt took on a light copper coloring in the glass. The scent leads with toffee, fig and malty honey, underscored by a mix of dry grass and burnt dry grass. Sipping reveals a silken texture, more honey and toffee, a touch of vanilla and a handful of oak shavings. The finish wanders off with a light dusting of ash.

The Price
Expect to pay $65 for a bottle of this single malt.