1. GlenStag Whisky
The focus of this article is on GlenStag, a whisky with a remarkably unique name. The name combines “Glen,” a Gaelic term commonly used in other products, with “Stag,” an English word. If translated directly into English, it means “Valley of the Stag.”
This whisky is quite affordable and was purchased from a supermarket. However, the thought of buying a 700ml bottle for review made me doubt if I could finish it all. Fortunately, I found a 200ml bottle, a super affordable whisky, so I bought it just for the review.
On the front of this whisky, it states that it is made of high-quality single malt (5%) and grain whisky (95%) that have been aged in American oak for at least three years before being bottled in Edinburgh. The manufacturer is Whyte And Mackay, which also has a whisky named after it. Upon further investigation, it is known that they undertake a triple maturation process, but it’s unclear whether GlenStag also undergoes this process.
2. Tasting Notes
Looking at the color of GlenStag, one would think caramel coloring must have been added for sure. A GlenGoyne 12-year-old I reviewed before was not as dark in color as this one. Perhaps because of this, when smelling it, there’s a gentle caramel aroma that’s smooth, accompanied by a toasted scent.
This aroma is also reflected in its taste. There’s a bit of saltiness, and it’s sweet. Alcohol is certainly present, but not as strong as one might think. The sweetness seems to mitigate it somewhat. All things considered, it’s better than expected.
This clearly seems more suited for drinking as a highball or as the base spirit in cocktails than just on its own as whisky. While it’s surprisingly decent, it seems there’s no escaping the limitations of an affordable spirit.
3. Product Information
Product Name: GlenStag
Type of Food: Whisky
Volume and Alcohol Content: 200ml, 40%
Manufacturer: Whyte And Mackay LTD
Ingredients: Whisky Distillate
Origin: Scotland (UK)
4. Overall Review
In summary, GlenStag Whisky doesn’t quite feel like whisky. With a malt ratio of only 5%, it leans significantly towards the character of a grain whisky. And from the reviews, it’s surprisingly not bad.
Given its extremely low price, expectations were not high, but it turns out to be drinkable enough, which is also my opinion. If you think of it as whisky, it’s rather disappointing; however, considering it as a cheap spirit in general, it’s not bad.
5. Link
The Scotch Whisky Criteria, Types and Product Region
The GlenStage – Whiksy Base