4
Expressions
4
With Tasting Notes
100%
Completeness
About
The Lowland representative in Diageo's Classic Malts series, often called 'the Edinburgh Malt' due to its proximity (just 15 miles from the city). Located in the rolling farmland of East Lothian near Pencaitland. Produces a light, floral, grassy single malt that exemplifies the traditional Lowland style. Home to an impressive scale model of a malt whisky distillery built for the 1924 Empire Exhibition and one of Scotland's largest wash stills. The 12 Year Old is a classic aperitif-style single malt.
Production Details
Owner
Diageo
Parent Company
Diageo
Status
Active
Founded
1825
Still Type
Pot
Stills
2
Capacity
2.5M LPA
Water Source
Lammermuir Hills reservoir
Core Range1
Glenkinchie 12 Year OldCore
1243% ABV$60-85
Ex-bourbon American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with a straw tint; light-medium body, clean and bright. One of the lightest-coloured Classic Malts
Smell
Floral and fresh with cut grass, lemon zest, and honeyed sweetness. Light cereal malt and a hint of butterscotch. Quintessentially Lowland — delicate and approachable
Sip
Sweet and smooth with liquorice, floral honey, and citrus. Light-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. Gentle barley sugar, lemon curd, and green apple. The Lowland character is immediately apparent — no peat, no aggression
Savor
Dry finish with lingering liquorice, gentle ginger spice, and a floral echo. Medium length, clean and refreshing
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Garden Path: floral, cut grass; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon zest, lemon curd), Orchard (green apple); Sweet Shop: honey, butterscotch, barley sugar; Bakery: cereal malt; Natural Foods: Spices (ginger); Library: liquorice
Limited / Special Releases3
Glenkinchie 27 Year Old The Floral Treasure Special Release 2023
2758.3% ABV2023$380-420
Refill American and European oak barrels and butts
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Deep gold with amber richness; full body. Natural colour, non-chill-filtered. The oldest age statement in the 2023 Diageo Special Releases
Smell
Elegant elderflower aromas with cookie dough, peaches in syrup, and toasted almonds. A delicate scent of apple grove in bloom, almonds, vanilla, and melon. Extraordinarily refined
Sip
A smattering of oak spice prickles through orchard fruit and citrus notes with a beautiful sweet vanilla element. Honeysuckle, stone fruit, and white pepper. At cask strength, the Lowland delicacy transforms into something profound and concentrated
Savor
Gracefully long and delicately floral. The 27 years have created a finish of remarkable elegance — persistent elderflower, vanilla, and toasted almond. One of the most refined Lowland expressions ever bottled
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Garden Path: elderflower, honeysuckle, apple blossom; Greengrocer: Orchard (peach, apple, melon, stone fruit), Citrus (citrus); Sweet Shop: vanilla; Bakery: cookie dough; Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper); Furniture Maker: Wood (toasted almond, oak spice)
Glenkinchie Distillers Edition
1243% ABV$70-90
Double matured: ex-bourbon then finished in Amontillado sherry-seasoned American oak casks
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Rich gold with a warm amber tint from the Amontillado finish; medium body
Smell
Lightly oily with sweetly malty character, dried fruit hints of raisin and date, and subtle grape sweetness from the Amontillado cask. Warm and inviting
Sip
Lightly oily and sweetly malty to start, then spicy with rich dried fruit hints of raisin and date. Creamy-smooth with lightly grapey sweetness crisply balanced by warming wood-spice as it dries from mid-palate
Savor
Elegantly drying with persistent Amontillado nuttiness and dried fruit. Wood-spice warmth lingers. More complex than the 12yo core, with the sherry finish adding depth to the Lowland lightness
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Pub/Bar: Wine (Amontillado sherry); Greengrocer: Dried (raisin, date); Bakery: malt; Sweet Shop: grape sweetness; Furniture Maker: Wood (oak spice); Natural Foods: Spices (warming spice)
Glenkinchie Distillery Exclusive
NAS48% ABV$80-100
Distillery exclusive cask selection
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Gold with warm highlights; medium body. Higher proof than standard range reveals more depth
Smell
Amplified floral and citrus character of classic Glenkinchie with additional malty depth. The higher ABV brings forward honeyed cereal and orchard fruit notes
Sip
Richer and more intense than the 12yo, with the Lowland delicacy preserved at a higher proof. Honey, lemon, green apple, and gentle oak spice with more body and texture
Savor
Longer than the 12yo with persistent honey-malt sweetness and gentle warming spice. The distillery-exclusive bottling shows what Glenkinchie can achieve at higher strength
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Garden Path: floral; Greengrocer: Citrus (lemon), Orchard (green apple); Sweet Shop: honey; Bakery: cereal malt; Furniture Maker: Wood (oak); Natural Foods: Spices (gentle spice)