Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenkinchie Scotch Whisky

Distillery Information

Founded in 1825-33 by the brothers George and John Rate

Location Lowland Region Eastern district east of Edinburgh

Water source, Well on the distillery site

Glenkinchie Scotch Whisky Distilling Equipment

Uses a lightly peated malt

Mash tun

6 Oregon pine washbacks

2 Pot stills

Traditional worm tub condenser

Matured in American oak bourbon casks with some finishing in Amontillado sherry butts for the distillers edition.

Glenkinchie Scotch Whisky Distillery History

Glenkinchie is one of the last working lowland distilleries left in Scotland. It is located just 15 miles east of Edinburgh on the edge of the Lammermuir hills a region known as the "Garden Of Scotland".

The brothers George and John Rate founded the distillery between 1825 and 1833, as the originally named Milton Distillery.

The distillery was renamed Glenkinchie in 1837. In 1853 the Rate brothers went bankrupt and the empty buildings of the distillery became used as a sawmill and cowshed.

In 1881 Glenkinchie was bought and restored by an association of whisky merchants and blenders from Edinburgh. This rebuilding took the best part of 10 years. The result was the Victorian distillery village known today – with its characteristic red brick buildings, houses for workers and even a bowling green.

Production was re-established in 1891 after rebuilding both the distillery and malt house. The distillery stopped using its own maltings in 1969.

Glenkinchie has six wooden washbacks used for fermentation, two made from Oregon Pine and four from Canadian Larch. . Also a distinctive feature is the two fat old copper pot stills among the largest in the industry together they produce 1.3 million litres annually. A single cast-iron worm tub cools the spirit, in preference to a more modern condenser, giving the whisky greater character and depth.

Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillery Bottlings

Glenkinchie 10 Year Old

Glenkinchie 12 Year Old

Glenkinchie Distillers edition Double Matured

Various Vintages

Glenkinchie 20 Year Old Limited Edition 5124 bottles released 2007

Distillery tasting notes supplied by Diageo

Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 year old

Subtly sophisticated Lowland is a superb pre-dinner drink; try it taken straight from the freezer.

Strength: 43% ABV

Appearance: Pale gold.

Nose: A light sweet nose with barley-malt, green grass and wisps of autumn smoke.

Body: Firm, light.

Palate: Slightly sweet yet fresh, late summer fruits and harvest fields, young wood and malted barley.

Finish: A surprising warm finish, dry with a smoky spiciness.

Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 year old

Strength: 43% ABV

Appearance: Pale gold.

Nose: Aromatic, vanilla, cut flowers and beneath, a clean, toasty note. Increasingly sweet and creamy, with fresh citrus, lemon cheesecake.

Body: Light, smooth.

Palate: Sweet, soft start becoming flowery. Crisp mid-palate then butter icing, lemon cheesecake and freesias.

Finish: Herbal and drying like pot-pourri.

Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillers edition 1988

After mellowing in a refill cask to develop the soft distillery character for a decade, a secondary maturation in a specifically chosen amontillado sherry wood cask ensures that all the good work continues. This edition is testimony to the skills of the Master Distiller.

Strength: 43% ABV

Appearance: Sunny golden.

Palate: Intense, a biscuity-sweetness followed by a long echoing interplay of sugar sweetness and oaky dryness.

Finish: An astonishingly long finish, dry and soothing.

Glenkinchie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Independent Bottlings

Cadenhead’s

Gordon & MacPhail.

Old Malt Cask

Secret Stills (Gordon & MacPhail

SMWS

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

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