The White Oak is a single malt whisky in the core domestic range of Glengoyne, the highly awarded Highland distillery. When released in July 2024, the whisky marked a first for the brand. It is the first Glengoyne to be exclusively matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and virgin American oak casks. These were sourced from North America. The Latin name for American oak is Quercus Alba, which translates as ‘white oak’.
The White Oak joins an extensive number of age statements at 12-, 15-, 18-, 21-,25- and 30 years old in the core range. These are complimented by annual limited editions such as the Cask Strength and Teapot Dram. There is also the Spirit of Time range for global travel retail. Glengoyne’s signature is its use of ex-sherry casks during maturation, which makes the White Oak a rarity.
Glengoyne was founded in 1833 by the Edmonstone family under the original name of Burnfoot. The distillery lies on The Highland Line – an imaginary line that separates the Highlands from the Lowland region. This runs diagonally from the River Clyde in the west to the River Tay in the east. This line runs through Glengoyne. The distillery sits on the Highland side to the north and the warehouses on the Lowland side to the south.
The distillery was renamed as Glengoyne in 1905. The name translates as ‘valley of the wild geese’ from the local Gaelic. It is currently owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, who took control in 2003. The annual production is around 1.2 million litres per year. The distillery is one of Scotland’s most traditional and eco-friendly. They operate very slow distillation times and engage in several local environmental schemes.
The Glengoyne White Oak is bottled at 48% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available via specialist whisky retailers globally and www.glengoyne.com. The whisky has already won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2024. A bottle should cost around £50.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is a bright pale gold and the nose is vibrant and sweet. Aromas of rich honey and plenty of vanilla lead the way and are followed by some white chocolate and icing sugar. Then comes confected fruit – think of poached yellow pear especially – and hints of dessicated coconut and freshly sawn oak.
On the palate this whisky is vibrant, clean and fresh. Superb notes of vanilla custard – imagine really good patisserie custard – and creamed coconut at the forefront. The combination gives a wonderful creaminess. The poached pear from the nose is evident again and is joined by some runny honey and a hint of crisp green apple, which seems to accentuate the initial freshness. Then comes hints of cocoa powder, white chocolate, cinnamon and white pepper. These sit in the background and are joined by something reminiscent of freshly sawn oak or pencil shavings.
The finish is crisp and a little short. The sweet and fruity characteristics fade rapidly to leave the drying oak and peppery spices to play. A twist of lemon zest adds a delicious final touch and lifts the finish well.
What’s The Verdict?
This Glengoyne White Oak is a cracker. It is a classic bourbon cask single malt with all the aroma and flavour that you would expect and want. The whisky is bright, uplifting and vibrant, and feels perfect for the Spring and Summer. 100% American oak is one of our favourites, if not our favourite, styles of Scotch whisky and this is a gem. There is no hiding place for the spirit when matured this way. It makes us wonder why Glengoyne have not tried this before. It is a revelation.
