Glenmorangie 18 Year

GLENMORANGIE COLLECTION Glenmorangie 10 Glenmorangie 14 Quinta Ruban Port Cask Finish Glenmorangie 18 I felt compelled to revisit some Glenmorangie after seeing a recent review of the Glenmorangie 12 Lasanta Sherry Cask Finish. I don't have extensive experience with this distillery, but I own three bottles, so I decided to open them. Glenmorangie 10 The color is a light Pantone 130 (I have no affiliation with Pantone, just aiming for a bit more visual accuracy). The aroma is subdued; it took about 20 minutes to reveal itself, reminding me of a wine in a quiet phase. I remembered honey and apricot, but it's very faint after several minutes in the glass. Honey does come through on the palate, with a somewhat viscous texture. Vanilla joins some bitterness on the finish. Given the relatively young 10-year age for scotch, I wouldn't attribute this bitterness to oak tannins. 43% ABV. It's less complex than I recalled; rated 3.0 out of 5 stars – a rating that still means I'd keep it on hand. Glenmorangie 14 Quinta Ruban Port Cask Finish A clear Pantone 167 color; much darker than the 10-year, likely due to aging in ruby port casks. The aroma is inviting, with notes of chocolate-covered cherries, candied ginger, brown sugar, and orange oil. It has a sweet entry on the palate, a slightly thick mouthfeel, and dark caramelized sugar leading to a pleasant bitter note of strong coffee, dark orange, and white pepper on the medium-to-long finish. The standard 43% ABV is very well-managed. Non-chill filtered. 43% ABV. It's excellent, even better than I remembered. Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars. Glenmorangie 18 Pantone 138 in color. The aroma offers braised peaches, white chocolate hazelnut cookies, cocoa, and spearmint. Later, I detected concord grape juice, a new experience for me. The sweet palate reveals bittersweet chocolate and mulled apple cider. Some espresso bitterness appears on the finish, similar to the Quinta Ruban, along with vanilla and lingering mild chili notes. The bitterness, while not unpleasant, detracts from the smoothness typically found in other 18-year-olds. With aeration, it does seem to gain more smoothness and even sweetness. 43% ABV. Very good, but not outstanding enough to reach the top tier; rated 3.75 out of 5 stars. The standout for me tonight was the Quinta Ruban. Both the 10- and 18-year expressions were less impressive than I recalled. However, cost is a major factor: I would certainly keep the Quinta Ruban on hand, and the 10-year as well; but I'm uncertain about the 18-year. The elaborate packaging and "Extremely Rare" marketing feel overdone. It has its strengths and represents decent value at about $120 for an 18-year-old, definitely a "nice to have" but not a "must-have" (if "must" even applies to luxury items like a whiskey collection). None are bad, and the Quinta Ruban is actually quite desirable. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Glenmorangie 18 year old is bottled at 43% ABV and costs about $130. Glenmorangie 18 has declined. Years ago, I recommended it to a coworker seeking a special Scotch around $100 that would be suitable for a wedding celebration. At the time, it was a creamy, fruity, voluptuous dessert whisky, surpassing similar offerings from Glenlivet 18 and Glenfiddich 18. Unfortunately, my most recent bottle of Glenmo 18 is sulfurous. Given its large brand and widespread availability, batch variation seems unlikely. This is a resigned acceptance of the current state of sherry casks. The sulfur from subpar sherry casks is different from that found in worm tub distillates; the latter is heavy, imparting a savory, meaty flavor. Bad sherry cask sulfur, however, is a pervasive aroma that taints every sip with the smell of a decaying swamp. These whiskies are bottled perhaps because many consumers claim not to detect these unpleasant notes, but I suspect many are simply heavy drinkers. Did they release a fart in the bottle? This is the modern question when buying any sherry-influenced bottle today, especially at a 'competitive' price. Perhaps it's safer to opt for exorbitantly priced bottles like Macallan 18 sherry oak or Octomore 13.2 for your sherry preference? Because, is there any value in a whisky that smells like a fart? Do I need to discuss anything else about this whisky? Do you discuss the good parts of a date when your date smells like a fart? Bad odor is bad odor. The value of a bad-smelling whisky is zero. Such a whisky is undrinkable, rendering tasting notes unnecessary. I will let this bottle age for a year or two, as some suggest sulfur notes diminish over time, though my experience differs. It's regrettable to review such a long-standing expression this way, but I feel compelled to issue a warning about the alarming prevalence of terrible sherry-influenced whiskies today.

Nose: Apple, peach, rich tobacco, menthol, baked pears in a flaky crust, vigorous swirling releases a wave of fresh fruit scents - too many to identify, pear candy, damp forest, mild tree bark, noticeable ethanol. Palate: Rich and rounded, caramel, cinnamon apple pie, pear custard, dried and perhaps lightly smoked leaves (is this slightly smoky?), vanilla candy, dried red fruit, earthy mineral notes, dark cocoa, freeze-dried coffee. Finish: Fruity initially, turns earthy and mineral, then hints of oak with more pronounced mint and dried herb notes, a touch of ethanol burn, a touch of oaky heat. Excellent, but also a bit subdued. It's essentially a straightforward Highland single malt, but with some nuances and a decent showing of age. I think, more accurately, I have enjoyed this bottle, and would probably purchase it again, but it doesn't capture my attention in a way that holds my wandering taste buds, even briefly. Some whiskies do that - you desire more immediately. This isn't quite that exceptional. But that's likely as much about my palate as it is about the scotch. If you haven't tried this, it's definitely worth getting a bottle. _______________________ Please come join an unofficial community on Discord (now one whole year old!): https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired - it shouldn't be - please post a comment and I will gladly and usually quickly provide a new one.)

Aroma: Orchard fruits, honey, raisins, baked apples, poached pears Taste: Orchard fruits, candied oranges, bright red berries, raisins, honey, a slight bitter apple stem/seed note, ripe nectarines Finish: Charred sugar glaze, orchard fruits, poached pears Score: 88/100 Overall Impression: This spirit is quite enjoyable, and the typical bitter notes from apple core/stem/seed are less prominent, perhaps due to its extended aging. It's not outstanding, but it is well-balanced and feels like a very pleasant summer drink. Despite its relatively low 43% ABV, the flavor profile is much more robust, seeming closer to 48-50%. A very agreeable drinker with consistently good flavors, not overly complex. Would I consume it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically request it? - Possibly Would I purchase a bottle? - Possibly NOTE - Price is not considered in these reviews.

Thanks to a surprise from a friend, I’m continuing my experience with Glenmorangie. While the “Extra Rare” designation on its black packaging has drawn some criticism, I found it quite attractive. Upon opening the distinctive and elegant box, you are greeted by the recognizable Glenmorangie bottle, containing a golden amber liquid. As soon as it’s poured into a glass, a sharp citrus aroma reaches the nose. This is followed by sweet vanilla, and finally, a hint of chocolate appears. During the tasting, a sour citrus note is perceived first, but it is quickly followed by a wonderful sweetness. After letting it swirl around the palate for a moment, a sugary, honey-like flavor begins to gently burn the throat. This prolonged burn is succeeded by a warm sensation and a subtly spicy, woody aroma—collectively making Glenmorangie 18 an exceptional whisky.

Recently, my focus has shifted more towards whiskey than bourbon. While out shopping, I noticed this bottle and, being the last one, I decided to purchase it. The name and description intrigued me, so I took the chance. After several pours, I'm extremely pleased with my choice. The aroma was fruity, leaning towards caramel and lemon meringue. The flavor was quite delightful, again showing a lemony character with a hint of pie crust. Undertones of honey and orange appeared towards the semi-long finish. The lower proof made it easy to drink. Be aware, as multiple pours in one evening are definitely possible. This was my first experience with this distillery, and it was quite memorable.