Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Glenugie.
Bottler: Signatory Vintage.
Region: Scotland/Highland Single Malt.
ABV: 46.3%. Cask Strength.
Age: 30 Years. Distilled on 18 Oct. 1977. Bottled on 10 Dec. 2007.
Cask type: Hogshead.
Nose: Dried tropical fruit apricot and golden kiwi fruit leather, syrupy, tinned pineapple, upside down cake; beautifully tropical, key lime, tarts and desserts, lilikoi syrup, coconut lifesavers!
Palate: Medium-bodied, big tropical fruits, citrus, and honeycomb/beeswax, creamy orange and lilikoi, subtle florals and plumeria, Capri-Sun fruit punch, coconut lifesavers and candies, tin cans and wood toward the end.
Finish: Long and drying; milk chocolate, musk, and herbal tea.
Mental Image: Back to the Future IV: Beach Surfing Safari.
Conclusion: The aroma was tropical and creamy, with tons of citrusy pineapple touched by tin, golden kiwis, and oranges— an absolute buffet of canned juice and creamy popsicles. Upside-down cake pushed in a maltier direction, while a vein of tangy key lime introduced creamy tarts and toasted sugars. Hints of florals lingered behind passion fruit while big coconut Lifesavers blasted out nostalgia on full volume. Medium-bodied, the palate reprised many of the same themes with an underlying creaminess that turned toward beeswax at times. Floral elements came on stronger with Capri-Sun fruit punch and Island Sun’s canned passion-orange juice. The finish was long and dry— not overly sweet— with subtle milk chocolate, musk, and herbal tea.
This was an absolute tropical beast from a distillery whose name sounds utterly invented and made up— as if someone was half-remembering Glenburgie but dropping a few letters. I splurged to win this bottle at auction a few years back and opened it to celebrate a major life event with fellow whisky friends. I was surprised at just how good it was— I honestly did not expect much.
The bottle was a YOLO buy, a closed distillery I was unfamiliar with, and while I hoped it would be good, I had no idea what to expect. Maybe that seems odd, but I expected the occasion would make the bottle and, at the very least, for it to be delightful to share with friends. The fact that it was fantastic was a plus, especially as I doubt many of us will encounter any other Glenugie soon.
Overall, a special bottle to mark a special occasion— it lived up to the moment and the wife placed it as an S-tier bath scotch, truly high praise.
Final Score: 92.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 