Glenmorangie Duthac

This expression, a travel retail exclusive, was obtained at the Windsor-Detroit tunnel duty-free shop. It was provided as a bonus for our tour group, and I've been finishing the bottle. Named in honor of St. Duthac, the Patron Saint of Tain, Ross-shire, the distillery's location, who was supposedly born around 1000 A.D. This non-age statement expression, believed to be between 8-12 years old, is finished in a blend of PX sherry and charred virgin oak casks. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is chill-filtered and contains added colorant. It has a very appealing dark copper hue. The aroma begins with sweet, fruity sherry notes of apricots, figs, and pears, along with sweet brown sugar and toffee. There are abundant roasted nuts, a mix of walnuts, Brazil nuts, and possibly pecans. Vanilla and fresh oak are present. More fruit emerges, like plums and raisins. A combination of dark and milk chocolate, light cinnamon, and buttercream is detected. There's a slightly earthy/vegetal note, perhaps indicating a hint of peat. Marzipan with a faint mint and a whisper of cola are also noticeable. The bottom of the glass reveals a pleasant syrupy quality. The palate is initially sweet but carries spice, with notes of apricots, peaches, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Brazil nuts and almonds are present, along with strong fresh-cut oak. Raisins, sherry, and sweet cherries and cherry candies are detected. It's certainly a dessert-style dram, but with enough spice to prevent it from being overly sweet. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, slightly thin but with a subtle waxiness. It's mouthwatering, then becomes dry. The finish is medium-long, characterized by sweetness, a touch of spice, oak, and apricots. Glenmorangie's spirit is remarkably clean, allowing it to accept finishing very well. The cask influence is pronounced, with both the PX and virgin oak clearly discernible. It's not quite as exceptional as Quinta Ruban, but it matches Lasanta in quality. I'm pleased I purchased this bottle as it's worth experiencing, though I likely won't buy it again, primarily due to restrictions on the number of bottles I can bring across the border and the need to sample other options. At $80 for a full liter, it represents a decent value. A solid 4 out of 5 stars. Cheers.

Here is another travel retail exclusive malt that I likely would not have had the opportunity to sample if not for a friend. I'm not particularly a Glenmorangie enthusiast to begin with, so the probability is I wouldn't purchase this one even if it were available locally. So, a big thank you again to my friend. This immediately brings to mind the La Santa core bottle: abundant sherry and chocolate notes from the outset. This is part of the newly launched Legends Collection- which, as you might have guessed, is a No Age Statement series with at least two more releases planned. This particular bottling is primarily matured in Pedro Ximenez and virgin oak casks, bottled at 43% ABV, with added coloring and chill filtration. It presents a rather golden, amber hue in the glass and leaves oily, extended legs when swirled. The aroma is rich with raisins, breakfast syrup, cocoa powder, and roasted nuts. There's also a faint, lingering warmth from the alcohol. The palate features brown sugar and toffee, well-balanced by woody oak spice and a hint of ginger. The finish is medium-short and quite sweet. Overall, I don't believe I enjoy it as much as I initially liked the La Santa bottling. This one appears much sweeter and less integrated in terms of mouthfeel. It's enjoyable, certainly, I just feel this is a modified rendition of the La Santa, rebranded and allocated to travel retail. Which, generally speaking, is questionable. But perhaps that's just my resentment stemming from not having easy access to travel retail items. It rates a solid 3.5 to 3.75 stars, though. Cheers

Nose: interesting oxidation, slight buttery notes, nuts, malt sweetness, red berry fruitiness, vanilla, fig and candied fruit, raisins, prunes, caramel, toffee, slight milk chocolate, red apple citrus, candied orange peel, and pineapple in syrup, woody, slight cinnamon and no perception of alcohol. Complex and very distinct aromas from the American virgin oak, reminiscent of some bourbon nuances. Palate: basically the same notes perceived on the nose, with a good nose-palate relationship. Malt sweetness is very present, with spiciness and very evident wine notes, bringing with it lots of red fruits, good oiliness, slight buttery notes, vanilla, caramel, slight bitterness and good woodiness. The alcohol remains little perceived. Finish: medium to long, with well-balanced bitterness and sweetness, plus spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. Candied fruits are very present in the finish, with emphasis on fig and wine notes. General Impressions: great whisky with GREAT value for money. Generally overlooked on free shop shelves, but with great quality. It has good complexity thanks to its mix of PX and virgin oak, plus the 43% ABV which makes a big difference. I recommend it for sipping neat, without water or ice, as this whisky is very good and any addition would compromise the sensory quality of this whisky.

A busy but joyful and wonderful Christmas Eve and day with loved ones, making this season special. Now, I'm by the fire, listening to Vince Guaraldi Trio's Christmas music on this frigid evening to unwind with the dram provided by a friend. The aroma is rich with sherry, toffee, cocoa, and tea. It's very fruity with plums, raisins, and a subtle strawberry scent deep in the background after some time to open up. A sweet arrival of brown sugar and toffee. There's also spice: cinnamon, white pepper. The sweetness gradually shifts to spicy cloves that fade toward the finish. A peppery finish with some nuttiness and a slight orange bitterness. A nice medium-length finish. I've never been a huge fan of Glenmorangie; the general profile, for me, isn't exciting (perhaps what I'd call mass-market safe). However, this Duthac was enjoyable. A sweet dessert whisky that's pleasant. One of the better Glenmorangie expressions. [86/100][Tasted: 12/26/17]

On the nose, I detect honey, dark spices, brown sugar, and lemon. Floral notes emerged after further aeration. On the palate, I experience Fig Newtons, subtle molasses, hazelnuts, and milk chocolate. Available exclusively in travel retail and priced at $80, this is certainly one worth acquiring and enjoying patiently. The finish is sweet with toffee, slightly brief, but not overly dry. I perceive this as a lighter version of Glenmorangie's Quinta Ruban. A score of 3.5 out of 5 for me. The theme of this dram should be light and sweet, much like a power ballad. "Heaven" by Warrant would be fitting. My thanks to a friend for the excellent travel retail sample!

Honestly, I don't recall much about the Duthac except that I really enjoyed it and detected the familiar Glenmorangie warm honey sweetness. The aroma is full of vanilla, nougat, and caramel, with some wood notes and a hint of chocolate and nuts. The palate is even sweeter, with vanilla, toffee, nougat, apricots, butterscotch, and milk chocolate. It might be older than its non-age-statement classification suggests. The finish is also sweet, ultimately revealing its Glenmorangie essence. While it may not score as high as the Quinta Ruban, it's still a good example of what travel retail whisky should be.