The Glenturret Triple Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VA ABC- $XX.xx

Total Wine - $75.99

Class VI - $XX.xx

45% ABV

NAS

The Glenturret

30 Dec 24

My lovely wife got me a scotch whisky advent calendar for Christmas.  I’ve written about them before.  While expensive, they’re perfect for the whisk(e)y-loving person in your life.  I’m on day two and to my continued surprise, I opened a wee dram of Glenturret Triple Wood.  Never had it before - one of the best features of the advent calendar is that they include unusual, even exotic whiskies that are hard to find and so it is true with Glenturret.  

Like all scotches, this whisky is aged in a previously-filled bourbon barrel.  The master distiller then decided to ‘finish’ this in a used Sherry cask (usually for just a few months after the many years of bourbon barrel aging).  Tasting notes (from their website) include vanilla toffee, maltiness, citrus and pear drops emphasise the integration between spirit and casks. With American Oak influence, bringing toffee, honeyed fruits and the distinct fruity nature of this whisky. European Sherry influence builds on this with sweet wood spices and ginger and cinnamon notes. 

Forbes Magazine informs us that Glenturret Triple Wood 2022 Release was judged the world’s top single malt Scotch whisky at the 2023 International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC). The competition, among the largest and most prestigious in the world, evaluated more than 4,000 spirit entries, including hundreds of Scotch whisky entries.

I try to avoid using the word, ‘smooth’ to describe a whisky, but there’s really no other way to describe this dram.  There’s no burn whatsoever.  It’s an unpeated whisky so no earthiness, only clover, heather, and honey.  While there’s no age statement (NAS), from my reading, it appears that this whisky is at least seven years old.  I would vow to only pour one dram a night of this scotch otherwise I could easily consume the entire bottle in one evening.  As the Brits like to say, it punches above its weight - for only $75, it tastes like it should be considerably more expensive.  

The Scots really love Glenturret.  They’ve been enjoying it since 1763.  Again from Forbes:  “Glenturret is Scotland’s oldest working distillery. Originally known as the Thurot Distillery, its distillation history, both legal and illegal, dates back to at least 1763. Whisky distillation likely occurred here even earlier, possibly as far back as 1717. According to some records, it was also known as the Hosh Distillery. Hosh is the Gaelic term for foot. The name Glenturret was adopted in 1875”.1

I apologize for featuring a whisky that’s not even sold in Virginia, but let’s just call it an aspirational whisky.  If you enjoy scotch, you’ll really enjoy Glenturret.  It’s worth the search.  I’ll certainly look for it the next time I’m at a Total Wine. 

Һеҙҙең һаулыҡ өсөн!

Blood and Sand

From Liquor.com

Ingredients

3/4 ounce scotch (choose one that isn't too peated)

3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

3/4 ounce Heering cherry liqueur

3/4 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed

Garnish: orange peel

Steps

Add the ingredients into a shaker with ice and stir until well-chilled.

Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.

Garnish with an orange peel.

+++++

Are you looking for a top-shelf single malt? The Glenturret Triple Wood Single Malt has a history of quality.  This scotch is perfect for those looking for a sweet, unpeated dram that tastes expensive, but is quite reasonably priced.  The cocktail of the week is a scotch classic that I know you’ll enjoy.