Hier meine tasting notes aus der Base für chapter 1 (leider nur auf Englisch):
84 points I generally like Glengoyne, but one of the reasons why I like it is that the distillery tends to offer well-aged expressions at affordable prices. This is heading into the opposite direction, with no age statement and a price tag to rival that of the 18-year-old. It's a fun dram in and of itself (especially on the palate), but its younger components are too prominent (especially on the nose) to warrant serious interest on my part.
Nose Immediately and recognizably young, with some sour, yeasty-fermentary notes. Almost a bit lactic at times. Then there's a distinct berry fruitiness. In combination I'm reminded of wild berry yoghurt. The sherry influence certainly comes through, but for a bottling that places the term 1st fill Oloroso sherry front and center, it's surprisingly restrained and refill-y. The intensity of the sherry aromas reminds me more of recent Glenfarclas OBs than anything else. It's certainly less pronounced than in the 15- and 18-year-old expressions (to say nothing of the 21-year-old). It's rather nutty and sour sherry, no big sweetness: it's Oloroso alright. After a while, an additional citric aspect announces that the (rather young) spirit still has a word to say here as well. As far as the oak is concerned, there's not a lot of it on the nose, and what can be detected is a rather vague sense of spiciness that shades into herbal territories: perhaps some soft rosemary and scattered nutmeg. All in all, pretty simple, youngish and not hugely impressive, though I do have to admit that the fermentary character appears to subside somewhat after a few minutes. Water accentuates the Oloroso notes and is recommended in moderation.
Taste Starts off simultaneously sour and juicy, before becoming sweeter and more robust towards the middle. The overall impression is of jammy red berry fruits, and perhaps some sour cherry marmalade. There are (of course) raisins as well as some nice leafy, mossy, forest-y (you see where I'm going with this) sherry notes in here, but they do face off against the youngish, more acerbic components, and it's a bit of a struggle. The mouthfeel is good, however, and at 48%, there's a real sense of some substantial spirit shining through. I might even be tempted to say that it's almost a bit ... chewy? Which is a good thing for sure. So this expression does add something that the core range is missing, and that is an impression of what the distillate feels like at a (slightly) higher strength. And surprisingly, it's rather more weighty than I would have assumed. Almost reminds me of Glendronach or the aforementioned Glenfarclas - other well-sherried Highlanders with meaty, weighty backbones. This is certainly a bit lighter overall, but I'm surprised at the similarities. Definitely fun in the mouth, and there's more going on than the nose had me expect. Dangerously drinkable at 48%, and very juicy.
Finish Not stunning exactly, but the European oak influence does add some nice liquorice, chicory, and coffee impressions as well as a soft herbal aspect to go along with some residual fruity acidity. Fades swiftly though to make room for the next sip. A true sipper's finish. ;)