
April 5, 2017

Three special official Glenmorangie

A newish wined no-age-statement, a popular middle-aged regular, and a rare and princely single cask for charity. How does that sound?

Glenmorangie ‘Bacalta’ (46%, OB, Private Edition, 2017)

Some humble yet expensive (+/-90€) NAS finished in casks seasoned with sweet malmsey Madeira, malmsey being another name for malvasia. Oh well, why not? Colour: light gold. Nose: starts a little buttery and porridge-y, gets then a little more ‘grilled’ and honeyed, with a layer of dry tobacco and ginger cookies, with hints of caraway and orange zests and marmalade in the background. It’s not too winey, having said that, which can’t be bad news. Mouth: starts more winey and a little sour (really reminds me of orange wine), with a green spiciness, some green pepper, and a feeling of mulled wine, with quite a lot of cinnamon, cloves, as well as a little aniseed. Rather bittersweet, with a green oakiness. Finish: medium, on some kind of spicy green fruitcake and molasses honey. Green/sour aftertaste, with more porridge. Comments: not as sweet as I had expected. I used to rather not like the older Glenmos ‘Madeira Wood Finish’ but I’m finding this one very okay. SGP:561 - 82 points.

Glenmorangie 18yo 'Extremely Rare' (43%, OB, +/- 2017)

Of course not ‘extremely rare’, but pretty good according to my notes for earlier batches. The price is similar to that of the new NAS, and it’s partly a finishing as well (30% have been finished for three years in oloroso). Colour: pale gold. Nose: cleaner and fresher, more ‘natural’ than the Bacalta, more floral as well, with lovely whiffs of acacia flowers, orange blossom, and simply all-flower honey. Some orange cake, and brioche flavoured with orange blossom water. Mouth: really much brighter and more citrusy than Bacalta, with tangerines, honey, and more ‘oriental’ brioche. Some figs, dried pears and apricots, and then vanilla. Good body at just 43% vol. Finish: medium, honeyed, with dried fruits again and always this citrusy/floral side. Comments: a very easy, approachable, and consensual malt whisky. Really enjoy it. SGP:551 – 84 points.

Glenmorangie 12 yo 2003/2015 ‘Rare Single Cask’ (56.5%, OB, The Grimaldi Collection, bourbon, cask #633, 180 bottles)

This cask was selected by and bottled for H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. It certainly is one of the rarest Glenmorangies, and bottles are being used/sold to support the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Colour: pale gold. Nose: there! Some creamy vanilla and some orchard fruits, first peaches and greengages, then buttery pears and apricots. All that lies on some good puff pastry, and there sure is some honey and liquid caramel on top of all that. Very nice. With water: more brioche-y notes, panettone… Mouth (neat): really very good, and extremely citrusy. It’s all lemons and tangerines, and even yuzu, mind you. Just touches of oak shavings. With water: perfect malt whisky ‘as nature intended’. Bight yellow fruits with some cake, custard, and honey. Finish: medium and even more cake-y yet, but oranges are fighting back in the aftertaste. Comments: a kind of ueber-ueber Ten Year Old, and Glenmorangie as in Glenmorangie. See what I mean? SGP:551 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Glenmorangie I've tasted so far