Glengoyne Scottish Oak 17 Year Old Single Malt Released

Oak Masters' Series Part Three Finished in Local Oak and Awarded IWSC Double Gold Outstanding

Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery Glengoyne has announced the launch of Scottish Oak 17 Year Old, the third release in its Oak Masters’ Series, scheduled to hit shelves on September 3, 2026, bottled at 51.6% ABV. This series explores the distinct impact of different oak species on whisky maturation, following previous releases of White Oak in 2024 and Mizunara Oak in 2025.

Rare Native Scottish Oak Finishing Craftsmanship

This 17-year-old single malt spent the majority of its maturation in the distillery’s traditional refill bourbon and refill sherry casks. The blending team then hand-selected individual parcels of liquid for finishing in virgin Scottish oak casks for up to two years, intending to introduce warming spices and delicate woody dimensions to the distillery's signature orchard fruit profile. The timber was harvested from woodlands around the village of Killearn, situated just 5 miles from Glengoyne. Native Scottish sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is scarce, prone to leakage, and notoriously difficult to cooper, making its use exceedingly rare in Scotch whisky.

Ahead of its official release, this expression earned prestigious acclaim at the 2026 IWSC, taking home the highest accolade of Double Gold Outstanding—one of only six whiskies in its category to receive this award that year. The presentation box artwork is inspired by the Scottish Colourists movement, capturing the distinctive interplay of light and landscape across the Scottish terroir.

Official Tasting Notes and Slow Distillation Heritage

According to official tasting notes, the nose offers heather honey, lime, poached pears, and raspberry porridge alongside chocolate cereal, almonds, and tropical accents. The palate is rich and balanced, revealing toasted oak, fresh fruit, oatmeal raisin cookies, vanilla, ginger, and nutmeg. The finish is long and gentle, leaving notes of nuts, vanilla, delicate tannins, and sweet spice.

Founded in 1833, Glengoyne sits right on the Highland line north of Glasgow. The distillery is renowned for its unhurried distillation rate of around 5 liters per minute—significantly slower than the industry norm of 15 liters per minute—to extract a delicate, unpeated, fruity new-make spirit. Utilizing air-dried Laureate barley and local soft water, the distillery is owned by Ian Macleod Distillers and established an innovative wetland facility in 2011 to naturally treat 100% of its liquid effluent.

📅 Release Date: 2026-09-04

🔗 Source: The Whiskey Wash