Scotland, Northern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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Glen Ord

Description of the whisky

The distillery

Glen Ord
Glen Ord Distillery
Muir of Ord
Ross-shire
IV6 7UJ
+44 1463 870 421
Owner: United Distillers & Vintners (Diageo) Ltd
Creation date 1838

Photos

From the dozen distilleries which used to operate in the area of Black Isle on the East coast of Northern Highlands, Glen Ord is the only survivor. The Glen Ord distillery has been founded in 1838.
First owner were Robert Johnstone and Donald McLennan. The company which owned the distillery, "Ord Distillers Co" changed several times from owner until James Watson & Co purchased it in 1896. Watson was a blender from Dundee and he owned Pulteney and Parkmore.
Watson refurbished and enlarged the distillery by adding new stills and considerably enhancing the malting floors.
The distillery closed during World War I and was bankrupt in 1923, before John Dewar who recently entered the D.C.L. group belonging to SMD, acquired it.
World War II was synonym of a second closing period, because of a general lack of barley.
Important refurbishment works have been done in 1960 and the malting floors were replaced by a "saladin-box" in 1961, with the modernisation of the distillery.
A new malting was build in 1968 to supply the 7 other distilleries of the group, amongst others Talisker on Isle of Skye.
A new modernisation of the malting took place in 1996.
The whisky marketed by the distillery has had several different names during the last years: Glen Oran, Glen Ordie and Glen Ord.
About 10% of the production is marketed as single malt, the remaining being used in the blends Johnnie Walker and Dewar's.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

Glen Ord: official bottlings

Glen-Ord

12 years
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Official
Cask
 sherry
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 Forum 81/100
Colour is gold with amber glints. The nose is fresh and simple (cereal) with some sherry hints. The palate confirms the nose with a dry and spicy finish of average length.
Single malt without personality nor conviction.

The nose is pleasant, with some malt hints. The taste is rather complex, and a slight sherry hint augments the pleasure to drink this whisky which is not really known as being a great whisky - wrongly, according to my personal opinion-.A long finish with spicy hints make me give this whisky a rather good quotation. This is an interesting bottle, not to reject right away. In short a very good whisky.
79/100
During the second tasting, the nose was rather discrete, with a hint of pepper. The nose announces a good whisky. This impression is not denied in the palate. The problem is that it tastes a bit "diluted", has a lack at character. However, the taste is good, with some pepper and spice notes. The peppery finish is too short and gives the same impression of "dilution" It's a pity, because it could have been a great whisky.
79/100
The nose is surprisingly peppery wiht sherry hints behind some nice malty flavours. En the mouth, the first impression is rather discrete, but the taste develops quickly on more complex, still peppery and malty fragrances with sherry touches on the background. The finish is rather long, spicy and smoothly malted. This bottle seems to get better and better.
84/100
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Glen-Ord

aged 12 years
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 40,0 %
Bottler
 Official
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 Forum 78/100
Glen Ord 40%
The nose is first rather discrete. After a while it begins to open and reveals a nice sherryish and spicy dominance. In the palate, however, it is relatively deceiving, probably due to its 40%, which makes it a bit "watery". But the taste remains nicely complex, with beautiful spicy notes. The finish is lingering and amazing, as it gives the impression afterwards the alcohol percentage was higher, and the green pepper touches are still present. A amazing bottle, specially for its price... (may be it was a mistake in the store...)
74/100
Aeration was necessary to appreciate this whisky. The nose is now much more powerful and open, with nice hints of sherry and fruit. In the mouth, a very nice malty sensation, rather complex sith nice fruity hints and clear vanilla touches and some woody bitterness. A nice and warm finish, essentially marked by the malt.
79/100
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Glen-Ord

25 years (2004)
Age
 25 years
Alcohol percentage
 58,3 %
Bottler
 Official
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 91/100
Glen Ord 25 2004

Colour: Old gold
A beautiful nose which combines the smell of malt, fresh hay, a touch of metal. Then come the flowers and some woody notes coming after citrus scents, overripe orange. A very nice complexity and a real treat.
The first palate is one of great complexity where the wonderful taste of toasted malt mingles with the sweetness of ripe fruit (peach) before evolving into notes of dried fruit. The whole is remarkably integrated and has a superb balance.
Long finish shared between memories of roasted barley, cashews and citrus overripe.
A marvel ...
91/100
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Glen-Ord

30 years (2005)
Age
 30 years
Alcohol percentage
 58,7 %
Bottler
 Official
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 Forum 86/100
Glen Ord 30
The nose is slightly aggressive, totally lacking in relief, while remaining cool and not really unpleasant. Tingling caused by alcohol or fatigue of the bottle (the bottle was not sealed the purchase ...).
A fresh mouth, acid and low complexity. Alcohol ...
The finish is fresh and ... that's it
70/100
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Glen-Ord

Rare Malts 23 years
Collection
 Rare Malts
Age
 23 years
Alcohol percentage
 60,8 %
Bottler
 Official
Dates
 Distil: 1974 Bottling: 10-1998
Bottle
 2774 of
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 79/100
Glen Ord 23 ans Rare Malts
The nose is marked by some discrete fragrance, recalling eau de Cologne in the middle of a flower field. Some hints of ripe fruit too. Presence of alcohol is obvious. The mouth is rather aggressive, firstly marked by alcohol and some woody aromas, but however quite complex. Stealthy hints of liquorice are present as well. The warm finish should have some more roundness. However, it is very long. This whisky certainly deserves another tasting. A few days of aeration should be benefic to this whisky.
79/100
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Gle Ord: Independent bottlings

Glen-Ord

1999
Collection
 Eilan Gillan
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 Cognacs Leopold Gourmel
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 0/100
Glen Ord Eilan Gillan
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Glen-Ord

Old Malt Cask, 18 years
Collection
 Old malt cask
Age
 18 years
Alcohol percentage
 50,0 %
Bottler
 Douglas Laing
Cask
 refill butt
Cask number
single cask 3336
Dates
 Distil: 01/1989 Bottling: 02/2007
Bottle
 808 btls
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Gle Ord: Old Malt Cask

An amazingly fresh nose where cut grass and discrete hay notes mix with some nutty hints.
The mouth is relatively complex, adding light hazelnut and coffee with milk notes to the freshness of the nose. A very pleasant nose anyway.
The finish is rather long, mixing some blurred memories of milk chocolate and hazelnuts are followed by some alcohol impression, which was completely absent in both the nose and the mouth.
84/100

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Glen-Ord

Daily Dram Long Red, 12 years
Collection
 Daily Dram
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 Bresser&Timmer / The Nectar
Dates
 Distil: 1996 Bottling: 2008
Bottle
 184 btls
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Glen Ord Long Red
Cut grass menthol and hay are the first fragrances the nose encounters. This first impression is followed by spices, pepper and clove. A nose both very fresh and very coloured.
The mouth is pleasant too wit first nice fresh notes prolonging perfectly the nose and which slowly develop on a light bitterness.
Bitterness dominates the long finish, which however remains rather fresh.
84/100
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Glen-Ord

Single Malts of Scotland, 18 years

Collection
 The Single Malts of Scotland
Age
 18 years
Alcohol percentage
 52,8 %
Bottler
 The Whisky Exchange
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 84/100
Glen Ord Single malts of Scotland
Very nice classical nose with its beautiful malty notes and pleasant floral touches. A touch of hay and caramel notes. A nice whole, rather balanced but not really complex.
The mouth is refined and smooth with nice fruity hints. Apples, pears and peaches followed by a kind of slightly acid bitterness. Amazing but quite pleasant.
Very nice fruity finish too.
An excellent surprise.
84/100
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Glen-Ord

1999, Bourbon Hogshead
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 54,5 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 31212
Dates
 Distil: 09/03/1999 Bottling: 03/2010
Bottle
 27 of 289 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 88/100
Glen Ord 1999 Malts of Scotland

A pleasant nose consisting of freshness and bitterness. Coffee notes lost in an ocean of cut grass. Floral hints too, a touch of eucalyptus and spices, pepper. Very nice complexity.
The palate is quite complex too. First impression is a remarkable freshness. Nice acid notes developing on milk chocolate through divers fruity fragrances. Extremely pleasant mouth and the papilla's travel from an initial acid world to a light bitterness, walnut and chocolate to finish on a clear domination of acid notes.
The finish is of medium length and amazingly does not retain any of the acidity which was so present in the late mouth. Chocolate, or even coffee seem to dominate here.
88/100

 

 
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Glen Ord: Samples

Glen-Ord

Gifted Stills 1998
Collection
 Best casks of Scotland
Age
 8 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 79/100
An exceptional nose, both peppery and very fresh. Very expressive and very promising. The mouth is not in the same tone. The taste is much smoother than expected after the nosing. It developes on nutty/malty tastes, on a great smoothness and a kind of bitterness. However, the palette seems too limited. The finish is lingering and pleasantly marked by slightly bitter notes. A good whisky, but the mouth did not confirm the qualities of the nose.
79/100
Pleasant and fresh nose, marked by both spices (pepper) and gentle leather notes. Some fruity hints and bee wax. The palate is rather discrete, with fruity notes (banana), without complexity while remaining pleasantly fresh. Spices return after a while. The finish is lingering, marked by pepper. Nice tasting.
79/100
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Glen-Ord

Gifted Stills 2001
Collection
 Gifted Stills
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 79/100
The nose is clearly fruity and very fresh. Somewhere between peach and apple with touches of smoke and hints of vanilla.
The palate is quite varied without being really complex. Alternately sweet then bitter and finally acid tastes before coming back on the fruity sweetness. Amazing and quite pleasant even if a little higher percentage of alcohol would have enhanced the complexity of this whisky.
The finish is relatively long and first marked by nutty hints before developing on fruit again after a while.
79/100
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Glen-Ord

Best Casks of Scotland 1996-2007
Collection
 Best casks of Scotland
Age
 11 years
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
Dates
 Distil: 1996 Bottling: 2007
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 74/100

Color: White wine
The nose is pleasantly marked by a mixture of hazelnuts and fruit yellow. Nice spicy addition. Not complex but not in default. The nose is pleasant if not extraordinary.
The first impression is a blend of citrus, orange peel and nuts. Orange peel seems to dominate throughout the tasting. Here again nothing spectacular, but the whiskey is very nice
The finish is discreet and relatively short duration.
74/100
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Glen-Ord

1996, bourbon hogshead
Age
 15 years
Alcohol percentage
 53,3 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 2171
Dates
 Distil: 03-1996 Bottling: 04-2011
Bottle
 310 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 82/100

Color: White wine
A nice fresh nose mingling smells of freshly cut grass and ripe fruit. Pleasantly scented, this nose is remarkably soft without falling into the honey. A hint of mint and spices complement the pleasant picture.
Very nice entry on the palate with these interesting acid notes, this slightly metallic concoction of herbs but without any aggressiveness. Always fresh, but little complexity.
The finish is fresh and relatively short if even nonexistent. A pity, because the mouth foreshadowed more body.
An ideal whisky for summer as it is pleasantly cool.
82/100
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A pleasant nose consisting of freshness and bitterness. Coffee notes lost in an ocean of cut grass. Floral hints too, a touch of eucalyptus and spices, pepper. Very nice complexity.
The palate is quite complex too. First impression is a remarkable freshness. Nice acid notes developing on milk chocolate through divers fruity fragrances. Extremely pleasant mouth and the papilla's travel from an initial acid world to a light bitterness, walnut and chocolate to finish on a clear domination of acid notes.
The finish is of medium length and amazingly does not retain any of the acidity which was so present in the late mouth. Chocolate, or even coffee seem to dominate here.
88/100

Glen-Ord

1999, Bourbon Hogshead #110013
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 54,4 %
Bottler
 Malts of Scotland
Cask
 Bourbon Hogshead
Cask number
single cask 110013
Dates
 Distil: 09/03/1999 Bottling: 10/2011
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
links & average quote
 83/100
Glen Ord 1999 MOS

Color: Gold
A slightly fruity nose without exuberance. At the limit of discretion, the nose seems very balanced but very little complex. Some notes close to the cut grass supplemented with malt scents ... However, after several minutes at the bottom of the glass, new sensations, made of notes of hazelnut enhance the pleasue of the nose.
The mouth is much nicer than the nose. First some clear notes of chocolate milk, muesli and nuts contrast enough with the discretion of the nose.
A very balanced mouth without any aggression. Slightly more complex than the nose, the mouth is very nice.
The finish is long and warm especially marked by those rather unexpected for Glen Ord notes of mocha .
83/100
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Glen Ord: Not in collection

Glen-Ord

40 years old
Age
 40 years
Alcohol percentage
 40,1 %
Bottler
 Royal Miles
Dates
 Distil: 1965 Bottling: 2005
links & average quote
 90/100
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Northern Highlands

Northern Highlands map

Most of the distilleries of that area are settled on the wild and windy seaside between Narin and John 'O Groats, on the Eastern coast.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Northern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow