Review #455 - Glengoyne 18 Year
Glengoyne's range contains a number of age-stated releases - this 18 year version is the oldest of their core range, but their 'Fine & Rare' segment has ages of 21 years, 25 years, 30 years, and even older. In the modern market, the 18 year mark is often viewed as the graduation to 'older' whisky; let's see how that tastes in the case of Glengoyne.
The brand doesn't give too much information about the whisky on their website. We do know that maturation uses some ex-bourbon casks, as well as a proportion of first fill Oloroso sherry casks. The strength comes in at 43% ABV; because of that, some level of chill filtration is likely, and we could be in for a more reserved tasting experience.
Glengoyne 18 Year
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 168 (2025)
Age Statement: 18 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon and first fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 100%, 70%, and 30% (blind tasting) fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Soft, with delicate, light scents: mild musty oak, grapefruit, lavender, and linen. Pineapple and tinned pear add more fruit, before we get darker notes like fig or pomegranate. There's still a bit of malt character, which brings floral notes and a hint of sour funk.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin; cinnamon and drying oak greet us first, followed by sweeter honey, dark grapes, and tannic red wine. There's a decent mix of sweet and spicy flavors overall... later, the oak takes on a polished side. Light notes of pear, vanilla, and malty grains form the backbone.
Finish: Caramel and cinnamon to start, then some oak notes - pepper, tannins, a mild nutty character. This grows more dry and subtle with time: papaya, honey, and more tannins, as well as some wood varnish. It's a medium-short finish.
Final Note: This single malt is fine - there's nothing offensive about it, but for an 18 year old whisky with a more premium price point, it does feel a little bit plain and subtle. We would love to see a higher strength presentation here - 46% ABV to 50% ABV would be much better - and a guarantee of no chill filtration and no artificial coloring.
Value is a little below average. That's typical for 18+ year old whiskies, as prices tend to increase very quickly once we reach that point of maturation; still, we think there are some better values in the 18 year bracket compared to this bottle.
Our Average Rating: 6.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.46
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Glengoyne reviews:
