Old Particular Glengoyne 2008 12 years

Score: 64

Old Particular’s Glengoyne 2008 12 year old came into the tasting with promise, an indie bottling from Douglas Laing, drawn from a single refill sherry butt and bottled at 48.4% without chill filtration or added colour. On paper, it had the pedigree: Highland elegance, sherry depth, and a chewy, spice-laden profile. But in a lineup stacked with bold contenders, it struggled to find its footing, ultimately placing last in the tasting. The nose offered a mix of dark and red fruits—plum, cherry, and raisin—alongside burnt spice and malt. There was a hint of menthol and toasted grain, but it felt slightly muted compared to the vibrancy of its rivals. On the palate, it leaned into fruit-flavoured toffee and burnt toast, with flashes of cinnamon and nutmeg. A touch of mint added lift, but the overall texture was dense and a bit gristy. The finish brought dried citrus and dusty malt, tapering into dry mixed spices that lingered but didn’t quite evolve. It wasn’t a bad whisky by any stretch, it had character and complexity, but in this particular tasting, it lacked the clarity and cohesion that defined the top performers. A dram for slow sipping and quiet contemplation, perhaps, but not one that commanded the spotlight this time around. *CLUB TASTING NOTES* "Nutty on the nose, good med finish, excellent overall." "Sharp! Young. Malty... tart" "Overall not impressed"