Release
Where the sea meets the cask: the Glenglassaugh trio
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Every great distillery possesses a spirit with its own unmistakable identity. At Glenglassaugh, that identity is shaped by the meeting of land and sea: a vibrant Highland malt defined by orchard fruits, honeyed sweetness and a subtle maritime freshness. Elegant yet characterful, it is a spirit with the depth and body to embrace bold cask interventions while never losing its distinctive house style.
The distillery
The coastal Highland distillery of Glenglassaugh, founded in 1874, is situated near the town of Portsoy, Banffshire, overlooking the Moray Firth. After more than two decades of silence, production resumed in 2008, marking a new chapter in its history.
A combination of long fermentation, wooden washbacks and lantern-shaped stills helps define Glenglassaugh's spirit character. The production includes both unpeated and peated spirit, contributing to a medium-weight spirit with pronounced fruit, honeyed sweetness and floral notes.
Glenglassaugh is consistently rewarding to bottle. Its fruity and coastal character provides a versatile foundation for different cask influences, allowing new dimensions of this distinctive Highland malt to be revealed.
Three casks, one spirit
The Rare Find Glenglassaugh Collection explores that versatility through three exceptional single casks, each demonstrating how carefully selected finishing oak can reveal a different side of the same robust spirit. From the rich fruit and gentle spice of Madeira to the vibrant berry character of ruby port, and the tropical warmth of a Foursquare rum cask, each finish complements rather than dominates the distillery's naturally expressive style.
Glenglassaugh 9 – Ruby Port Finish
Nose. Strawberry shortcake and raspberries laced with thick cream sit alongside a buttery biscuit base, whilst spiced mirabelle plums sit with milk chocolate buttons on the nose.
Palate. The arrival of the palate is thickly textured and offers a cornucopia of berry fruits alongside ginger and cinnamon spices. The mid-palate reveals chocolate torte together with well-balanced cask char.
Finish. A long finish with vivid stewed berry fruits and lingering fine chocolate.
View the Ruby Port Finish release
Glenglassaugh 9 – Madeira Finish
Nose. Oranges and lemon zest sit alongside plump raisins, whilst digestive biscuits and powdered ginger are sprinkled atop freshly picked red and black berries on the nose.
Palate. The palate is rich with dark berry cordials and oils joining chocolate torte and candied orange peels. The mid-palate offers additional cask influence from well-balanced pepper, together with cinnamon spice.
Finish. A lingering finish with cinnamon-spiced berries and fading chocolate.
View the Madeira Finish release
Glenglassaugh 10 – Foursquare Finish
Nose. Wild honey and caramel sit alongside peaches and zesty citrus, whilst leafy greenness and underripe bananas add to the warm, sweet and inviting nose.
Palate. An expressive palate with toffee and caramel livened by lemon-drizzled apricots alongside golden tobacco and touches of cinnamon stick.
Finish. Dusty cinnamon and toasted oak fade into vivid stone fruits with an underlying tropical sweetness.
View the Foursquare Finish release
A cohesive trilogy
While the casks take each whisky in a different direction, the unmistakable Glenglassaugh character remains at the centre of every release. Together, they form a cohesive trilogy that showcases both the individuality of each cask and the consistency of the underlying spirit.
Bottled at natural cask strength, with no added colour or chill filtration, these limited single cask releases offer the opportunity to explore one distillery through three distinctly different lenses, each revealing a new perspective on Glenglassaugh's distinctive spirit.
