This 16-year-old Glen Garioch marks the first cask selected collaboratively by the whole Rare Find team. The Highland single malt was given an eight-month finish in a 1st fill Ribera del Duero barrique, introducing dark fruit and spice to the distillery’s robust character. Rather than allowing the wine cask to dominate, the selection was made for the way both elements hold their place. The result is a layered, team-chosen release that combines mature malt, red-fruit depth and a warm, structured finish.
Tasting notes
Berries
Spiced
Nose
Blackcurrant jelly, vanilla fudge, strawberry laces and dark chocolate.
Palate
Coffee ground and Chinese five spice are joined by dark fruits and dry oak spices.
Finish
Lengthy with fading berry fruits and cask char.
The distillery
Glen Garioch
Founded in 1797 in the Aberdeenshire town of Oldmeldrum, Glen Garioch is widely recognised as one of Scotland's oldest working whisky distilleries. Operating from a historic site that has evolved over generations, the distillery combines traditional production spaces with modern equipment. Recent restoration work has seen the return of floor maltings and direct fired still heating, techniques now found at only a small number of Scottish whisky distilleries.
The spirit can be described as rich and creamy, with a malty character, notes of honey and spicy undertones. Its weighty nature makes it well suited to long maturation, allowing greater depth and complexity to develop over time. We particularly appreciate Glen Garioch's versatility, with the spirit performing especially well in ex-bourbon casks while adapting successfully to a range of other wood types.
The Highlands are Scotland's largest whisky producing region, covering a vast geographical area of the mainland along with many of Scotland's whisky producing islands. Distilleries are found across diverse landscapes, creating one of the most geographically varied whisky producing areas in Scotland.
Highland whiskies are known for their wide range of styles and flavour profiles. Expressions can vary from light and floral to rich, malty and coastal, reflecting both the broad geography of the region and the distinctive production methods of individual distilleries.
This versatility makes Highland whisky rewarding for independent bottling. Their broad spectrum of spirit styles responds exceptionally well to a variety of cask types, giving opportunities to explore the interplay between distillery character and cask influence.
Customer reviews
Full specification
Category
Single malt Scotch whisky
Distillery
Glen Garioch
Region
Highlands
Country
Scotland
Age
16 years
Distilled
3 October 2008
Bottled
2025
Strength
55.4% ABV
Bottle size
70 cl
Original outturn
309 bottles
Cask number
108
Cask
1st Fill Ribera del Duero Barrique Finish
More to explore
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