Glengarioch – 2012/2021 9 Year Old Battlehill (Duncan Taylor) (70cl, 46%)

This is a Highland single malt from Glen Garioch, bottled by the independent bottler Duncan Taylor in its Battlehill range. It was distilled in 2012, matured for nine years in oak casks and bottled in 2021 at 46% in a 70cl bottle. The colour is natural and the whisky is not chill-filtered. The Battlehill name recalls the battle between Robert the Bruce and John Comyn near Huntly, where Duncan Taylor is based. The nose shows plenty of fruit, including pear, with sulphur notes and a hint of damp, slightly musty cardboard. The palate pairs sweet fruit and sulphur with some spice, plus light acidity and bitterness. The finish keeps the fruit, a light acidity and a faint bitterness.