Tasting note by Best of Wines

Sweet Classics

Sometimes a classic is exactly what we need to remind ourselves why these whiskies are a classic. The Glenmorangie is famous for having the longest lyne arms from Scotland. These lyne arms are the extention from the stills. Because of the length, there is a lot of reflux (you remember, that process where the alcohol vapours condens and drip back in the still, making the spirit smooth). Due to this length, the spirit of Glenmorangie is very light.

COLOUR
Bronze-gold.
NOSE
The nose jumps out of the glass with its richness. Orange slices are mixed together with Creme Brûlée, vanilla pudding, apricot pie, roasted almonds, treacle and chestnuts. In the background there is a hint of chocolate truffles and a subtle herbal note. Sage maybe?
PALATE
A Christmas pudding with raisins, warm spices, baked apricots and vanilla. A true desert, but also carrying a little freshness of lemon peels and some more green herbs. Now getting a slight hint of Eucalyptus as well as some aniseed.
FINISH
The finish is long and the sweetness slowly dissolves into baked bread, lemon zest and a little beeswax. Very light and fresh finish.

CONCLUSION
This was a difficult one. The whisky was aged for 14 years on Bourbon casks and finished on sweet wine casks for another two years. This gave the whisky a very sweet and smooth character. The whisky showed its true provenance in the finish. The fresh and light finish with hints of beeswax and honey, apple fruit and grains, the light floral spirit that Glenmorangie is known about. It might very well be a big scorer for this year's competition, since many whisky drinkers would have had this whisky at least once in the past.