Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish

I'm a fan of Glenmorangies from the 80s and 90s. I previously tried the Madeira wood finish and kept it for a while before deciding whisky should be enjoyed rather than kept on a shelf forever. My friend had this Port Wood finish vintage bottle, and I was eager to sample it. While both Port and Madeira are Portuguese fortified wines with red fruit notes, they originate from different regions (Porto and Madeira, respectively). This particular bottle is from the 90s, has a natural color, and is bottled at 46% ABV. The nose delivered as expected: cherries, tiramisu, the signature Glenmorangie orange peel, a tres leches cake aroma, and a subtle floral hint. It also smelled like coffee with milk. Upon tasting, the aroma shifted to red chili, port wine, maple syrup, and hazelnut. A fantastic nose. The palate began with a spicy kick of red chili, followed by cherries, salt, and a surprising pepper explosion. The finish was pleasant, with notes of sawdust, fruity spice, and macerated fruits. In summary, this was an excellent dram that I greatly appreciated. While I still prefer the Madeira, this one was very drinkable, offering a pleasing blend of tastes and smells. I give this older bottling a strong 89 out of 100.

NOSE Rich copper notes with dark berries, melon peel, malt, cacao, vanilla, citrus, dehydrated orchard fruit, hints of wood, chocolate, and cinnamon. BEAUTIFUL This is very close to the Quinta Ruban 12, just a slight improvement. PALATE Intricate dark fruit, malt, tanned hide, spice, sweet vanilla icing, faint sulfur, metallic copper, and cocoa. Smooth and rich, a wonderful pour for slow enjoyment. FINISH Extensive -> Berry-like dark fruit, tree nuts, caramel candy, and a whisper of wood gradually fade with a hint of sulfur.

Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish (by the sixteen men of Tain), Highland, 96 pts. A strong alcohol presence immediately and a definite drying finish, yet it possesses a pleasant smooth body. Notes of butterscotch and a sweet vanilla, with stewed apricots, peaches, gentle spice, and a touch of tannin to round it out. Enjoyable taste and quite approachable. A friend and I acquired this bottle in St. Martin back in 2004 (I'm not a huge scotch drinker).

Nose: sweet, with notes of raisins, berries, baking spices, and is mild. Palate: sweet and dark, with berries and nuts. Finish: dry, with almond and a long, moderately pungent spice.

Nice... a very busy day in Newport. I believe crowds can alter your tasting experience.

Glenmorangie finished in port casks