Glenglassaugh Distillery’s Master Blender Explores the Essence of a $4,800 Whisky Influenced by Land, Sea, and Air.
Founded by Colonel James Moir in 1875, Glenglassaugh Distillery is nestled along the picturesque Sandend Bay coastline, where the crashing waves of the North Sea imparted a distinctive character to its spirits. For centuries, Glenglassaugh crafted highly sought-after whiskies, predominantly for blends. However, the whisky industry suffered a severe setback in the 1980s with the “Whisky Loch” crash, leading to the closure of numerous distilleries across Scotland, including Colonel Moir’s venture.
Then, in December 2008, the dormant distillery returned to life, rekindling its whisky-making tradition. Meanwhile, barrels of their exquisite single malt whisky aged in the cellars of Sandend Bay, soaking up the essence of the wood and coastal climate, awaiting their purpose. Glenglassaugh’s Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, has been entrusted with periodically sampling these rare casks to determine when one is ready to be shared with the world. Recently, she drew a whisky thief from cask #1978, filled with an ancient spirit, tasted its golden elixir from the Highland, and instantly knew its time had arrived.
We had the privilege of interviewing the esteemed Master Blender, and her responses resonated with the poetry of Scotland, prompting us to present them to you unfiltered—much like the nearly half-century-old barrel of Highland single malt.
What distinctive elements does Sandend Bay contribute to the Glenglassaugh whisky?
Glenglassaugh whisky is inseparable from its birthplace. The luscious sweetness of this coastal single malt embodies its natural surroundings in Sandend Bay. The visible and invisible influences of the land, sea, air, and spring water shape its essence.
With exceptionally rich mineral water used in the distillation process (with five times the average mineral content of Scottish water) and the coastal microflora surrounding the distillery, a unique and highly distinctive coastal tropical sweetness emerges in the spirit. During decades of maturation in our coastal warehouses, the microflora and fresh ocean air converge with the spirit and oak, crafting a sumptuous elixir with intricate layers of complexity and a timeless, luxurious taste.
After waiting nearly half a century, what qualities specific to this cask indicated it was ready to be shared with the world?
In the coastal warehouses of Glenglassaugh Distillery, very few treasured old and rare casks remain, and those aged 40 or even 50 years are incredibly rare. Under the diligent care of our warehouse team, I regularly monitored the liquid gold maturing inside this cask, relying solely on my senses to ascertain its perfection.
I discovered that cask #1978, distilled on September 3rd, 1975, had reached its pinnacle at 46 years old, polished on the shores of Sandend Bay. This 46-year-old elixir represents one of the last remaining casks of very old Glenglassaugh. With only 215 bottles available, bottled at a natural cask strength of 41.7% ABV, it was time to showcase this perfectly balanced and opulent liquid, abundant with seductive tropical and ripe summer fruit refined by the ocean breeze.
Could you share some insights about the cask and the flavors that define this unique expression?
Glenglassaugh, 46 Year Old, derives its character from maturation in both second-fill and first-fill American oak, enhancing the silkiness and achieving a harmonious blend of tropical and luscious ripe fruit flavors. With waves of mango, plum, and cherry reminiscent of an enchanting ocean breeze, Glenglassaugh 46 epitomizes the quintessential coastal single malt. The extended aging in American oak amplifies the silky smoothness, resulting in an elixir of indulgent tropical sweetness kissed by the ocean breeze.
What were the challenges in reviving a distillery that had been dormant for decades?
Glenglassaugh reawakened in December 2008 after over two decades of slumber, initially producing limited volumes. Over the years, it has released several small-batch bottlings. Fortunately, the distillery has demonstrated its resilience in weathering the challenges of its checkered past since its establishment in 1875. It continues to distill Glenglassaugh’s spirit through its two stills, just as it did before, eagerly anticipating a bright future ahead.
Since its revival, Glenglassaugh’s timeless coastal character has persisted, shining through as it did in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. We are incredibly fortunate that a select number of these rare and aged hidden gems still rest in our coastal warehouses, serving as a testament to the timeless nature of Glenglassaugh’s spirit. Production has gradually increased in recent years, with room for further growth as we continue to lay down Glenglassaugh’s spirit to mature in our coastal warehouses.
Limited to just 215 bottles, Glenglassaugh 46 is bottled at cask strength (41.7% ABV), non-chill filtered, and naturally colored. Each bottle is sealed with wax and hand-numbered. Glenglassaugh 46 is available at a retail price of $4,800.