2007 Single Cask Nation Glen Elgin 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Finished for five years in a first-fill Spanish oak hogshead. Shy on the nose, sawdust and carpenter's workshop holding back the honey and fruits; needs time to open up, breaking through on the palate with dense spiced orange cake amid a flurry of spices and honey. Juices up with minimal water but struggles to achieve a near-perfect balance, the spice and heat not easily deterred. 230 bottles. 57.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 25ml sample.

Other reviews... We believe that Glen Elgin should retain its place among the great historic malts, rather than sinking to the depths of the latest loch. In our view and perhaps in an ideal world, it's the best malts that should rise to the top — and that has absolutely nothing to do with marketing budgets or tequila finishes. And let’s not even mention the ubiquitous mizunara.... Colour: full gold. Nose: here come the roasted peanuts, charred wood, malt and walnut liqueur. This is much more classic than the previous ones, and we’re rather delighted by that. With water: quality grey pepper and a few old papers. We do love the scent of old papers. Mouth (neat): almost an onslaught of spices and citrus—green pepper, zest, bitter orange and clove. Classic and modern at the same time, so that’s spot on. With water: it improves further still, on orange, coriander and shochu. White pepper and yellow curry in the aftertaste, the cask clearly having been rather active. Finish: long, more peppery, spicier still. Comments: super stuff, just very oak-driven, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 83 points - whiskyfun.com