Glen Garioch 12 ans 70cl 48°

Just 17 miles from Aberdeen in the very north-eastern tip of Scotland, Glen Garioch is the most easterly Scotch Whisky distillery not just in Scotland but the world.

Blessed as it is with the north east’s mild climate, plentiful sunshine and not too much rain, the Valley of the Garioch has long been renowned as the finest barley growing area in the country. Once home to no fewer than six distilleries, today the Valley cradles just one – the one that bears its name.

With an abundance of golden barley and fresh spring water, not to mention the motto ‘Mean, speak and do well’, the quaint and historic market town of Oldmeldrum provides a natural setting for a distillery that only bottles its best whisky, and only then at the very peak of perfection.

One of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland, Glen Garioch (pronounced Geery in the ancient Doric dialect still spoken in these parts) has been making its mighty malt ever since 1797. Closed between 1995 and 1997, it is now operated by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which is owned by the Japanese company Suntory.

Shielded from the world’s prying eyes, deep in the fertile ‘Granary of Aberdeenshire’, and only ever produced in small, precious batches, Glen Garioch is a rare find indeed, but warmly appreciated by those who like a hearty Highland malt, non chill-filtered as nature intended, with a wholesome maltiness, honeyed sweetness and creamy texture.