Glenmorangie Ealanta

One of Glenmorangie's most celebrated expressions I had not previously tried, the renowned "Ealanta". Part of "The Private Collection", this always fetches a high price at auctions (around 200-300) and serves as the premier dram Glenmorangie offers distillery visitors. I've often questioned if it justifies the cost. Having finally visited Glenmorangie and sampled it, allow me to share my thoughts. Ealanta translates to "skillful" or "genius" and is a 1993 vintage, aged in Missouri American white oak, from a forest Glenmorangie owns. It's bottled at 46% ABV. The nose is exceptional. Ripe bananas. Its complexity is citrusy. The banana notes intensified after an initial taste. A bomb of vanilla and Coconut Raffaello candies (from Ferrero). Sophisticated. The palate is delightful. Vanilla ice cream, shredded coconut. It's the most sophisticated Glenmorangie I've encountered. While Signet offers chocolate/coffee notes, it lacks the finesse of this (a significant claim). The finish maintains the elegance. Salty, extremely sophisticated. Ginger, clove, hay; all elements are presented masterfully. There's a very, very faint salty and earthy flavor that is remarkable. In summary, this is a stunning dram. When I hear "American white oak maturation", I anticipate a classic and perhaps unremarkable profile. This defied that expectation. Ealanta showcases the pinnacle of this type of maturation. Utterly surprising, I rate it 96 out of 100.

First, the mention of an "unusually young age" seems misplaced, given this has been aged for 19 years, according to Glenmorangie's website. I found this to be a very engaging expression of the Glenmorangie spirit. Abundant orange zest and a distinct nuttiness, like almond or Brazil nuts, on the nose. Oak is obvious, but there's also some sweet butterscotch or toffee. A faint biscuit aroma. On the palate, the orange zest remains surprisingly noticeable. It's also very nutty. Plenty of oak notes, but a different kind of oak, one that is spicy and zesty in a way I've never quite encountered before. Coconut. Lots of oaky vanilla sweetness. A gingery finish that is long and delightful.

Should you get to attend a launch event for Glenmorangie's newest Private Edition, you'll receive a random token to sample one of the previous nine releases. If your token displays a number four, either by luck or by influence, you'll have the opportunity to taste this limited bottling. It's a classic Highland whisky with malty, creamy character, well-rounded, full-bodied, and long-lasting in flavor, much like the 19-year-old travel retail exclusive that followed it, which is slightly easier to find. Both will demonstrate the heights the Glenmorangie spirit can achieve when aged in a traditional cask.

NOSE Smooth vanilla, wood, spice, malt, citrus, caramel, mild butterscotch and banana candy. My goodness, the aroma of this Glenmorangie Ealanta is fantastic. Rich and full of elegant French pastry notes. PALATE Starts with the same smooth vanilla, then progresses to richer caramel, malt, and banana (like a banana caramel malted milkshake?), fresh baked goods, wood, cinnamon, and some butterscotch and citrus. The "wood" note is a little less prominent here and it's slightly sweeter overall than the nose suggested, but it maintains its lovely harmony. FINISH Extended -> Smooth vanilla, caramel, wood, spice, and honeyed graham cracker notes fading like a birthday cake.

A flavor profile resembling a piña colada, with notes of chocolate, honey, cherries, peaches, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cloves. Nose: Honey, Vanilla, Milk Chocolate Covered Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Raisins, Banoffee Pie, Pears, Green Apples, White Chocolate, Coconut, Tangerines, Pineapples. Palate: Vanilla, Honey, Toffee, Milk Chocolate, Raisins, Cherries, Raspberries, Bananas, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Cloves, Oranges. Finish: Vanilla, Piña Colada, Honey, Caramel, Bananas, Mocha, Chocolate.

The aroma presents piña colada notes (pineapple, coconut,) along with a hint of orange. On the palate, there's a light, consistent saltiness. Notes of marmalade and tangerine are present. The finish has a significant amount of lingering salt. It's truly unique and excellent, though not absolutely perfect.