Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Years (Special Release)

The last of my Special Releases reviews. This Glen Ord 18 Year Old has been drawn from freshly charred American oak hogsheads where it matured for the full ageing period.

It is the first time that Ord is bottled as part of the Special Releases – most of the production is used for Johnnie Walker and Dewar’s.

Singleton of Glen Ord 18 yo 2000 (55%, OB ‘Special Releases’ 2019)

Nose: sweet red apples up front, with generous baking spices. Vanilla cake with orange peel, nougat and buttery cocoa. Malty notes. Cinnamon. After some time it develops a more grassy / floral side as well.

Mouth: good texture but otherwise a similar ‘middle-of-the-road’ impression. Malt, garden fruits and spice. Leathery notes and bitter grapefruit peel. Some peppery prickle, cinnamon and nutmeg. Creamy vanilla too, but it turns towards harsher ginger and grassy tree bark.

Finish: quite long but becoming dry, peppery and malty.

Well indeed you may not get many Glen Ord bottlings, especially at cask strength, but put into perspective this feels a tad underwhelming. Available from MoM or TWE among others.

Score: 84/100