Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Year

The aroma is rich and lively, starting with a blend of balsamic strawberries, lemon curd, and coconut macaroons, followed by dark chocolate-covered espresso beans and freshly lit pipe tobacco. Then come sour cherries, sautéed figs, and blackberry jam, transitioning to moderate baking spices and mildly bitter black tea with a medium ethanol burn. The taste has a medium to full mouthfeel, beginning with creamy yet slightly sour red berries that quickly shift to a moderate bitter spice, slowly fading into spicy dark chocolate mocha, honeycomb, and freshly lit pipe tobacco. This is followed by blackberry pie, sour cherries, and candied lemon peel, transitioning to moderate baking spices and mildly bitter black tea with a medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length, starting with creamy red berries, honey, and light floral notes that slowly recede into the background of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, moderate black pepper spice, and freshly lit pipe tobacco. At 47.4% ABV, this turned out to be a surprisingly rich whiskey. The nose leans predominantly towards mildly sour red berries but is underscored by creamy sweetness and mild earthy notes. This carries over to the taste, where a moderate spice disrupts the balance before fading, allowing the rich yet sour berries to come through, along with a mild bitterness. It finishes with bold, sweet berries topped with a light drizzle of honey that fades into mildly spicy yet sweet earthy notes. At $80 when these were first released, I believe this would have been a perfect dram for anyone seeking a rich yet slightly spicy red berry whiskey. However, at the current secondary prices I'm seeing after a quick search, there are plenty of other tasty drams I'd prefer to buy for much less. Thank you so much for sharing this one with me.

This arrived at a much lower price point than the cake edition. The description of Spanish Malaga wine intrigued me because of the PX grapes used. The Sherry influence is evident, but it's subtle rather than overpowering, thanks to eight of its twelve years in ex-bourbon barrels before the last four in ex-Malaga barrels. Appearance: Pale golden Body: Plenty of wispy legs, velvety on the initial entry, then sharpens as it coats the mouth. Aroma: Grape jam, raisins, malt, with a hint of oak. Flavor: More robust than anticipated, featuring allspice, raisin, oak, traces of leather, followed by a wave of orange peel and slightly bitter cocoa before raisins and toffee re-emerge for a prolonged finish. It's pleasant but lacks a significant wow factor. While pursuing a Glen Fohdry bottle that a large retailer is heavily promoting, I'm questioning the double price of this one. The palate is agreeably complex, with subtle flavor development. The finish is enduring. However, there's a lack of substantial minerality, no real surprises, no wow. It's slightly superior to Glen Droch 12, but not by much. Oh well, I'll drink it. --- Wait, with a fresh palate... this is rich and spicy, more so than I first perceived. Pouring it on its own, rather than comparing it to something else, allows it to be better appreciated. It's viscous, spicy, with well-integrated oak, raisin, and a touch of milk chocolate. The finish is exceptionally long, with extended moments of raisin and plum, honey, and wisps of malt. This significantly surpasses Glen Droch 12. It's decadent. The score is increasing, and I'm ready for another serving...

Glenmorangie is recognized as one of Scotland's most upscale distilleries. This Malaga Cask Finish is a whisky that was matured in Malaga Dulce casks, which is a fortified wine from a different part of Andalusia (not the sherry region) made from Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez grapes. The term "Malaga" simply denotes the origin, but you can think of it as similar to a very sweet sherry. Bottled at 47.3% ABV, it has a beautiful tawny color. On the nose, this is a truly wonderful and inviting dram. It presents as tiramisu dessert, with red fruits, a nice coffee flavor, and cream. You also get notes of rice pudding, Kahlúa liqueur, and caramelized apple. After the first sip, the aroma shifts to sugar syrup, maple honey, sweet popcorn, marshmallows, and tobacco. On the palate, it begins with a beautiful blackberry marmalade flavor, then changes to cinnamon and orange. A second sip brought out the tiramisu from the nose and bitter coffee beans. A third sip revealed cotton candy. It's very complex. The aftertaste is the weakest aspect, though not bad at all. It features a lot of hay, salt, and tobacco. The second sip was much more bitter, with a dark chocolate note, like 100% cocoa. Overall, this is a great whisky. I actually feel Glenmorangie has produced some less-than-great expressions recently, but they've really nailed this one. Yes, it's excessively sweet, but I do have a sweet tooth. A beautiful dram, earning a score of 90/100.

Glenmorangie was among the initial single malts I sampled. It typically serves as an introductory spirit to single malts, alongside Balvenie or Glenfiddich. I haven't had a Glenmo in a considerable time and felt like a straightforward, non-peated single malt. This sample was provided by a friend. This is pleasant. It possesses an oiliness and fullness that I did not anticipate. Considering Malaga is a sweet wine, this is not particularly sweet. Fruit and oak compete for attention, with neither dominating. The signature Glenmo honey is present but well-balanced by notes of blackberry, peach, and apricot. All of this is enveloped in a graham cracker crust. This is an agreeable, simple drink. I would be happy to keep a bottle on hand and offer it to individuals who typically prefer bourbon. Do not expect a complex or life-changing experience; it's simply a nice summer sipper offering good value and an appropriate age statement. Thank you to my friend for the sample!

NOSE Sweet like fruit taffy, strong malt, honeyed dried fruits, sultanas, notes of raisins and prunes, plus a slight hint of medicinal metal and aged wood. Initially, it's sweet like candy, but it evolves into a sweeter profile featuring dark fruits and raisins/prunes. Delightful. PALATE Flavors of raisins and prunes, dried orchard fruits, copper, toasted graham crackers, dark honey, blackberry taffy, vanilla frosting, with hints of wood and nuts. The palate contrasts the aroma, beginning with fruity sweetness that gradually shifts to a candy-like sweetness.

- Aroma // Cream soda, cake, vanilla, dark berries, dried fruit, wheat, nuttiness, oak, honey, with time it suggests tea. - Taste // Smooth and rich texture, cake/cookies, vanilla, butterscotch, fruit notes like dates, some nuttiness, perhaps a touch of chocolate as it develops. - Aftertaste // Dates, a bit of citrus, woody/nutty character. Certainly a sweet drink for after dinner, but I'd happily sip this whenever. Easy drinking. Wonderful.