Following Friday’s focus on Dumbarton, we continue in the Lowlands with two releases from The Whisky Agency: Glenkinchie 2008 and Auchentoshan 1999. Glenkinchie sees very limited independent bottlings each year – few enough to count on one hand – whereas Auchentoshan boasts a strong and steady presence with both official and independent releases annually.
Glenkinchie 2008 The Whisky Agency (2025) Review
Glenkinchie Distillery rests in East Lothian, Scotland, and belongs to the Lowland whisky region. Founded by brothers John and George Rate in 1837, it originally operated under the name Milton Distillery before adopting its current name, derived from the Kinchie Burn on the estate. The distillery experienced a temporary closure in the mid-19th century, with the site converted into a sawmill, but resumed whisky production in the 1880s under new ownership. Glenkinchie became a founding member of Scottish Malt Distillers in 1914 and later joined Distillers Company Limited, the precursor to Diageo. Though it stopped floor malting in 1969, turning the maltings into a museum, Glenkinchie continues producing whisky today and forms one of the ‘Four Corners of Scotland’ malts used in Johnnie Walker blends.
Today’s Glenkinchie whisky comes from a 2008 distillate, bottled in 2025 by The Whisky Agency. It matured for 16 years in an ex-sherry hogshead, producing 300 bottles at cask strength (51.9% ABV), with no chill filtration or added colour. This bottling remains available in a few shops in Germany, priced around €160.
Colour:
Russet.
Nose:
Neat: The nose reveals hints of old tobacco leaves and cigar boxes, accompanied by a woody note of European oak and dusty shelves. Red fruits emerge, featuring raspberries, cherries, and plums. Soft spices, including cinnamon, ginger, and baking spices, add subtle complexity.
With water: Dilution introduces some sharpness and estery blackcurrants.
Palate:
Neat: The palate is more intense than the ABV suggests, with an oily mouthfeel. Bright and fruity notes of peaches, apricots, lemon, and oranges appear alongside vanilla, honey, pickled ginger, and a pinch of pepper and cloves. Some woody elements too.
With water: Reduction brings forward caramel, additional spices, and a woody bitterness, alongside grapefruit and spent tea leaves.
Finish:
The finish is warm, citric, and spicy, with pronounced pepper balanced by juicy lemon and orange, wood, and hints of roasted coffee beans.
Comments:
Glenkinchie is not one of the most marketed distilleries within Diageo’s portfolio, which makes whiskies like this Glenkinchie 2008 from The Whisky Agency all the more compelling. While official Glenkinchie releases tend to be soft, easy-drinking, and somewhat unremarkable, this independent bottling stands out for its depth, flavour intensity, and character. The influence of the cask dominates, but it blends well with the delicate Lowland spirit of Glenkinchie, resulting in a highly successful and well-chosen release by The Whisky Agency.
Rating: 7/10
Auchentoshan 1999 The Whisky Agency (2024) Review
Next up is an Auchentoshan 1999 bottled in 2024 by The Whisky Agency. It spent 25 years in a barrel, yielding 149 bottles at natural cask strength (51.2% ABV), non‑chill filtered and natural colour. It remains available in Germany at around €220.
Colour:
Jonquille.
Nose:
Neat: The nose requires some aeration to fully open, revealing unripe fruits such as apples and pears, alongside pomelo, kiwi, and lemon zest. Whiffs of solvent and varnish introduce a grainy, artificial quality, whilst leafy notes dominate with a strong ivy aroma.
With water: Dilution amplifies pomelo and introduces hints of durian and dragon fruit, along with finger lime. The reduction also removes the solvent notes.
Palate:
Neat: Like the Glenkinchie, this Auchentoshan delivers greater intensity than expected. Lemon zests and peels emerge alongside pears, red apples, pomelo, and unripe bananas. A leafy and bitter layer appears with slight woodiness, remaining pleasant. Salty and peppery touches accompany dark chocolate notes.
With water: The palate becomes fruitier and more intense, retaining the same fruit character with enhanced brightness. The palate remains clean and less leafy, but develops a subtle ashy quality.
Finish:
Chocolatey bitterness lingers with salt, pepper, slightly planky wood, and hints of coffee, for a good length.
Comments:
This Auchentoshan proves surprisingly compelling, a statement that would have seemed unlikely before tasting. Like the Glenkinchie, it demonstrates how independent bottlers unlock the potential of distilleries that often underperform in their official releases. The Whisky Agency’s selection showcases a bright, fruity, clean, and intense character – another excellent choice from The Whisky Agency.