Glenturret 10 Peat Smoked 2020 Release

About a year or so ago, I began working with one of those people that…let’s just say she took the joy out of everything I loved even beyond the workplace, including whisky. Then I was super behind in my reviews and I finally got around to catching up and just after I got back into a groove with my reviews I had to take some antibiotics and couldn’t post for a bit. To be honest, with how far behind I was (I know it doesn’t make sense to have a schedule but that’s just how I am), catching up made reviewing whisky feel like a chore rather than something I enjoyed. But I did it and got back until that nagging cough derailed me. I’m hoping to get out these next six reviews (4 and a side by side for #375) before starting this year’s Advent calendar (something I’m always looking forward to) now that I’m feeling it again, and six is not so large a number that I’m hopeful it won’t become a chore again. 

Onto the whisky, this is just something I was rather curious in trying after going out on a limb with a handful of peated Glenturrets from the SMWS without having opened them yet. Figured it couldn’t hurt to get familiar with their standard expression from their revamped line. After trying one of those a couple weeks ago, I’m wondering whether Glenturret might be a bit of a ‘mainland Ledaig’ so let’s not waste any more time.

Glenturret 10 Peat Smoked 2020 Release, Highland Single Malt, 50% ABV

Minutia: All I know is that it’s made with peated malt and matured for 10 years. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Russet, Muscat; 1.3.

Nose: Musty, nutty, Sherry. Some smoke. Green wood.

Taste: Sweet smoke, some spice.

Finish: Real smoke. Nice sweet and spicy tang. Some nuttiness. Medium.

This is interesting. I like it more this time around versus the first few drams I’d poured. Particularly where the smoke comes in at the start of the finish and really makes itself known. That nuttiness was more prevalent than I’d like, as while it’s not objectionable, the fact that it’s not something I care for I think hides some on the nose for me. So, at it’s not quite on the same level as Ledaig, but it is nice, and it’s interesting, and the bottle choice was nice.

Score: 80

Musical Evocation: Children of Bodom – “Hate Crew Deathroll”

 

Glenturret 8 2010 SMWS 16.38 "ACME ghost repellent"

I purchased this quite some time ago by now when my whisky world hardly included anything more than Islay and the nearby islands. It’s expanded a great deal since then, but this still represents a decision from that era to start exploring more. And even though I haven’t opened it until now, it sparked far greater exploration and an expansion of my palate to the point I have enjoyed certain unpeated whiskies more than most peated ones. So, this is something of a spark that didn’t show itself until after the fire, but still I’m happy to be trying it now. They name is also particularly fun, so that’s a plus, I guess.

Glenturret 8, 2010 Vintage, Scotch Malt Whisky Society 16.38, Highland Single Malt, 59.3% ABV

Minutia: Distilled on November 25, 2010 and matured in a re-charred hogshead for 8 years yielding 315 bottles. This is part of the Peated flavor profile named “ACME ghost repellent”. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Burnished; 1.1.

Nose: Metallic. Weird caramel/toffee. Old tropical fruit. Vanilla pops in sometimes. Leather and tobacco.

Taste: Spicy on the particular dram with the notes. Leaves and wood under it. There’s a very creamy sweetness that can sit over it (different drams did or didn’t feature it, I believe my palate was different based on prior eating and such on the different days).

Finish: Mineral and earthy. It’s mostly medium, but then a bloody meat kind of kicks in an is very much metallic/irony.

I’m not quite sure I’d describe it as a “farm in a bottle” but it’s still quite nice. A rather unique sweet note on the palate was very pleasant and contrasted well with a more grounded and earthy finish (when my palate let me experience it). It’s a really weird one, and feels both novel and familiar somehow. I’m very glad I’ve bought a few other Glenturret casks, really looking forward to them. Definitely one of the ones I’ve had a song come to mind with next to no thinking about it, too.

Score: 83

Musical Evocation: Black Sabbath – “Sweet Leaf”