A Glenglassaugh Octaves whisky is an unusual one. Glenglassaugh whiskies are uncommon by default, as the seaside Highlands distillery has only two stills and produces just 500,000 litres of spirit a year – that is around ten times less than the median.

The choice of cask also plays a part. Octaves are some of the smallest casks in the industry at around one eighth the capacity of the traditional whisky butt. They are seldom used due to the high wood-to-liquid ratio that threatens to overpower the spirit during aging. Glenglassaugh’s distillations, however, are particularly resilient – thanks to the high minerality of the water source and long fermentation time, its spirit is particularly hearty and fruit-forward. Octaves pair especially well with Glenglassaugh’s maturation process, as the distillery’s coastal location has large daily temperature swings that, along with the small cask size providing increased wood-spirit interaction, results in rapid ageing. 

There are two expressions of the Glenglassaugh Octaves Batch 2 (RM400), both at 44% ABV and non-chill filtered. Both also won awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 and are the last opportunity to acquire octave-matured whisky from Glenglassaugh.

Classic is the unpeated expression, and three types of octaves are involved in its maturation: bourbon, for the base vanilla and honey notes, Pedro Ximinez sherry for a sugary, raisin-like sweetness, and amontillado sherry for a drier, rounder fruitiness. Glenglassaugh’s tropical fruit character comes through especially on the nose in the form of pineapples and bananas, and the sea makes a savoury mark by way of a salted caramel overtone. It is full but not overpowering whisky, one that should not be imbibed too hastily.

The second expression is peated, using peat local to the Highlands. As opposed to the more famous island peat from Islay, Highland peat has a less pronounced vegetal and medicinal quality, leaning instead towards a meaty, barbeque-like smokiness. Applied to a bourbon, port and oloroso sherry cask maturation, Octaves Batch 2 Peated has a more pronounced saltiness and a more substantial, blunter sweetness like that of shortbread or biscuits.

In Malaysia, Glenglassaugh is represented by Drinks Alliance. For more information and to purchase, 
Call +6013 7766190 or Email: info@drinksalliance.asia