Product Description
Glenkinchie is a Lalland (Lowland Dialect) corruption of ‘de Quincy’, a family which owned tracts of East Lothian – the ‘Garden of Scotland’ – in the 14th century. The distillery was founded by the Rate brothers. They were originally farmers who grew and malted their own barley on the premises to produce a high quality Lowland whisky which has only recently been made available as a single malt (1988/89), as part of United Distillers’ Classic Malts range. In 1853 the Rate brothers were bankrupted and the buildings of the distillery lay empty, being primarily used as a cowshed. In the 1880s Glenkinchie was bought by a consortium of whisky merchants and blenders from Edinburgh and Leith, which re-established production after rebuilding the distillery and maltings.
Bright gold in colour. Very aromatic and flowery overall, like breathing in a country garden. Noticeable vanilla, cut flowers and beneath these, a clean, toasty note. Becomes increasingly sweet and creamy, with a lightly aromatic edge and fresh citrus, which all brings to mind lemon cheesecake. The mid-palate is crisp and then the flavour settles into a tightly focused bundle of butter-icing, lemon cheesecake and freesias. Herbal and drying slightly, as if it were pot-pourri.