We’re now very much into February and although Burns Night may be a distant memory (not for me, as I ‘m attending another one tonight!), it won’t stop me tasting a new blended whisky created and named after Robert Burns. Gleann Mor Spirits have released the first annual batch of ‘Auld Acquaintance’ – a whisky which pays homage to the opening line of Auld Lang Syne. While the packaging may be a bit kitsch what with the etching of Burns’ mugshot on the label (although I concede it’d be silly not to include a portrait of the bard somewhere on the bottle) there are two other points of interest which I like; the bottling strength of 46.2%, and the price of £35 per bottle.
Let’s give it a whirl.
Auld Acquaintance
Blended Whisky
Batch 1
46.2% ABV
£35 here
Nose: Honey, pine sap, resin, sugared breakfast cereals, vanilla icing sugar, zesty lemons, and apple skins. All very light and easy going.
Palate: Much the same, with custard creams, vanilla Angel Delight, lemon peel, banana yoghurt, white grapes, ginger, and white pepper. A touch of freshly chopped wood too.
Finish: Stays creamy with some light spices and more green wood.
Overall: Although rather simple, it does exactly what it says on the tin – delivers nice flavour, at a good strength, at an even better price point. One of those whiskies you crack open with friends and throw away the cork (in a responsible manner of course… in the bin). Easy going and a very sessionable dram. It’ll be very interesting to see how the batches vary going forward, but Gleann Mor are off to a very sold start with this one.
