Words by Colin Hampden-White
Most brands in the whisky world have their regular expressions. They may start with a non-age statement whisky or two, then a 10 or 12-year-old, and then rise through the age statements to around a 21 year old. All these expressions are based on consistency, the idea that if you bought a 12-year-old one year, then it would be no different if you bought it again in three or four years time. This builds up a customer base who know your product and know exactly what they are buying.
The Glenturret is a little different though. They too, like other brands have a core range. They start with a non-age statement called Triple Wood, they then have a 10, 12 and 15 year old with the age statements culminating in a 25 and 30-year-old, which like most other brands are more limited and will change in profile with each release.
Where The Glenturret is different though, is that all their expressions are batched, and therefore change with each annual release. This is a deliberate decision. Each expression holds true to the previous in style. Their entry level is still a triple wood, the 10 year old a peated expression and the 15 year old a high strength expression, but the 2021 releases are different in flavour profile to their predecessors. Not hugely, but enough to keep them interesting. The concentration at The Glenturret is not consistency of flavour profile, but consistency of flavour quality. For The Glenturret creating whisky expressions is all about quality.
Recently the distillery was sold to a group that included a strong link to Lalique glass. Another company that thrives on quality. Being a hand-crafted product, Lalique and The Glenturret have a lot in common. Individuality, quality, and all aimed at a luxury market. It is special to own a piece of Lalique glass, and so it is special to drink Glenturret. The two brands have great symbiosis.
Let’s have a closer look at this year’s release:
The Glenturret Triple Wood 2021
This opening gambit from The Glenturret showcases their spirit well. By delicate use of American and European sherry casks and ex American bourbon casks, they let the fruity side of the spirit shine whilst allowing gentle wood and spice characters to come through the spirit for a very well-balanced whisky.
ABV: 44%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £47
The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked 2021
A peaty expression at a higher-than-normal abv. This year’s expression follows on from last year with the smoke being sweet rather than saline and dry. Where the difference comes through is that there is less citrus fruit than the maiden expression and a little more orchard fruit with more richness. The two expressions are clearly linked by a good base spirit, but there are subtle differences.
ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £54
The Glenturret 12 Year Old 2021
With lots of rich dried fruits and spice, this expression is close in style to its predecessor. It is the heart of the range and therefore makes sense to stick to a similar flavour profile. Being a small batch of casks, this will still differ a little from the previous release, but the blending is superlative, and the differences are only clearer once the two expressions are tasted side by side.
ABV: 60%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £46
The Glenturret 15 Year Old 2021
Keeping the strength quite high at 53% is consistent with the 1st release. The use of refill casks allows the spirit to shine through, but there are also rich and spicy characteristics created by European oak and a small number of first fill casks. This is a whisky which expresses power and flavour equally without losing any of the finesse associated with The Glenturret today.
ABV: 53%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £110
The Glenturret 25 year old 2021
This expression has been created using only four casks all stored in traditional dunnage warehouses. A mixture of American and European ex Sherry casks, it is opulent and rich with baked apple and toffee flavours alongside soft spices and rich toasted oak.
ABV: 44.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £1,050
The Glenturret 30 year old 2021
The pinnacle of the range. This expression draws on American and French influence by using refill American ex-bourbon casks and first-fill European oak giving an opulent mix of sweet oak and fruit with vanilla and rich deep spice and smooth toasted oak. A whisky to certainly savour.
ABV: 41.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £1,700
If you’re quick enough there are still a few bottles of the maiden release left too and it’s a great tasting to try the maiden releases next to the 2021 releases.
The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked Maiden Release 2020
ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £49.95
The Glenturret Triple Wood Maiden Release 2020
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £51.49
You can find out more about The Glenturret’s 2020 range here and if you’re looking for some cocktail inspiration, make sure to have a look at One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret Triple Wood or One Drink, Three Ways: The Glenturret 10YO Peat Smoked.
