Wood finish whiskies at Le Comptoir Irlandais
Discover whiskies from 3 Speyside distilleries: BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh. Discrete for several decades, these distilleries come back today with expertise on the influence of casks and impressive finishes.
Discover our selection and measure the influence of the wood barrels that make the richness of these bottlings.
The BenRiach distillery
The BenRiach distillery was founded in 1897 by the Grant family right next to the Longmorn distillery, but it was left dormant in 1900 following the fall of the Pattison whisky crisis.
Located at the southern exit of Elgin, on the road to Rothes, in Speyside, Scotland, BenRiach was also called "Longmorn II" because the two distilleries are almost Siamese.
BenRiach had a chaotic start. Victim of the resounding bankruptcy of Pattison that precipitated many distilleries in its downfall, following its purchases of whisky on credit, the distillery closed after two years. Only its malting areas remained operational, notably to feed Longmorn malt. The distillation did not resume until 1965!
After an extension that brought the number of stills in 1985 from two to four, BenRiach changes hands in 2001, then again in 2004. Billy Walker, a prominent personality in the world of whisky, then embarks on the adventure with two investors. Today it is Brown Forman who is currently the owner of this distillery.
Those aging in the traditional cellars (dunnage) bathe in an extraordinary orange light.
The capacity of the distillery is 2.8 million litres of pure alcohol, about 900,000 bottles of Single Malt.
The versions with a name or an adjective are peated (Curiositas, Birnie Moss ...) and the accounts of ages without name or adjective are not peated (10 years, 16 years ...).
Exception: The Heart of Speyside that characterises the essence of Speyside is unpeated.
BenRiach's Wood Finish aging
Benriach 10 years old Curiositas: oak casks
Benriach Birnie Moss: bourbon
Benriach Peated Cask Strength Batch 1: sherry and bourbon
Benriach Cask Strength Batch 2: bourbon, sherry and new oak
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Glenglassaugh distillery
The Glenglassaugh distillery, located at the eastern end of beautiful Sandend Bay (Aberdeenshire) in the Scottish Highlands, has remained silent and forgotten for more than two decades. His legacy dates back to 1875 when the distillery was founded by Colonel James Moir.
Glenglassaugh is pronounced "Glenglassa" and means "valley of the gray-green place". This name comes from this beautiful environment in the Scottish Highlands.
The Glenglassaugh coat of arms is decorated with gannets, stills and barley. The Latin phrase "Per Mare, Per Terras" means "by land, by sea" is also included.
This blazon represents the important link between the distillery, the sea and reflects the coastal environment. It also tells how whisky has always been on the market long before the construction of the distillery. Originally the distillery was the site of a trafficker where unlawful distillation took place.
Closed in 1986, it was relaunched in 2008. The distillery is a true renaissance, celebrated by the launch of Glenglassaugh Revival, a beautiful Single Malt having enjoyed a barrel finish of Oloroso Xeres and many other whiskies. ...
Glenglassaugh's Wood Finish aging
Glenglassaugh Evolution: american oak
Glenglassaugh Pedro Ximenez Finish: bourbon then sherry
Glenglassaugh Peated Port Wood Finish: port wine casks
Glenglassaugh Revival: bourbon then sherry
Glenglassaugh Torfa: bourbon
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Glenglassaugh Revival received the silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019.
Glenglassaugh Torfa
Glenglassaugh Evolution received a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition 2019 and a silver medal at the World Whiskeys Awards 2019.
GlenDronach distillery
This distillery implements traditional methods of production (malting including partly drying with peat fire, as well as the heating of stills). This largely explains the powerful character and strong personality of its Single Malt.
Still very rich, GlenDronach whisky is fully revealed in Sherry cask versions. It shows a perfect balance between the notes of sherry, malted barley and red berries.
Its blackened stone buildings, pagodas and blood-red shutters immediately attract attention. The small stream that runs through the inner courtyard of the distillery reinforces its artisanal and traditional character.
Destroyed by a fire in 1837, it was rebuilt in 1852 and then bought in 1920 by Charles Grant, son of the founder of Glenfiddich. Sold in 1960 to William Teacher & Son, it doubled its production capacity in 1966, the number of stills from two to four.
Until dormant in 1996, GlenDronach was still malting some of its barley. Once again operational since 14th May 2002, its stills are still heated with coal.
Currently, Brown Forman (Jack Daniels) owns the distillery. Rachel Barrie is the Malt Master of the 3 GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.
GlenDronach Wood Finish aging
Glendronach Peated 12 years old: bourbon and sherry
Glendronach Parliament 21 years old: sherry casks
Glendronach Allardice 18 years old: Olorosso sherry
Glendronach 12 years old: sherry
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GlenDronach 18-year-old Allardice was voted the Best Single Malt Scotch whisky aged between 13 and 20 years old at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards. GlenDronach Parliament 21 years old won the bronze medal in the Best Single Malt Highland category and 12-year-old GlenDronach received the silver medal as Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskies up to 12 years old.
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Archive Birnie Moss is the most peated whisky in the BenRiach distillery. It reveals notes of oak, vanilla and exotic fruits.
Archive BenRiach 10 years old Curiositas is a return to the original character of Speyside and the flavour of typical peated malts of the 19th century.
Archive With fruity notes, coffee, citrus and spices this Glenglassaugh has been aged in American bourbon casks and then in Pedro Ximenez casks.
Archive Glenglassaugh Peated Port Wood, with peaty, fruity and spicy notes, is finished in virgin American oak casks and then in ex-Porto casks.
Best pick Highland Scottish whisky, Glendronach 12 years old, is aged entirely in Sherry casks: a combination of Sherry Oloroso for dried fruit flavours and spices, and Pedro Ximenez for grapes and sweet wines.
