The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Glengoyne 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch WhiskyIssue 91

Glengoyne 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glengoyne · Glengoyne Distillery

86 proof18 YearHighlands, Scotland
Glengoyne prides itself on the slowest distillation in Scotland, and this 18-year expression makes the case for why that matters. The patience at every stage — unhurried distillation, careful sherry cask selection, nearly two decades of maturation — produces a whisky of uncommon depth and balance. A masterclass in time well spent.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Thick sherry-influenced dried fruit — raisins, dates, stewed plums — over a bed of toasted oak and dark chocolate. Subtle rosewater emerges with air, alongside roasted hazelnut and a faint honeyed sweetness.

Palate

Creamy and full-bodied with a buttery mouthfeel that carries waves of caramel, clove spice, and cocoa. The sherry cask influence provides dried fruit complexity without overwhelming the malt character, which stays present as a clean, biscuity backbone.

Finish

Long and gently warming, with oak tannins, lingering dried fruit, and a closing note of dark honey. The sherry-oak interplay sustains well past the final sip.

Specifications
Region
Highlands
Cask Type
Oloroso sherry casks
Peat Level (PPM)
0 PPM (unpeated)
Distillation
Copper pot stills, slowest distillation rate in Scotland
Maturation
First-fill and refill oloroso sherry casks, 18 years minimum
Chill-Filtered
Non-chill filtered
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Highland Fig Sour — 2 oz Glengoyne 18 · 0.75 oz fig syrup · 0.75 oz lemon juice · 1 egg white · Dry shake, then shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a fig slice.

Food Pairing

Dark chocolate torte with candied orange peel

The Story

Distilled at a pace slower than any other Scottish distillery and matured exclusively in sherry-seasoned oak at the foot of Dumgoyne Hill, Glengoyne's 18-year expression is the product of a house that has never once used peat.

Train These Aromas
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