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92
Glenmorangie Côte de Nuits Finish (1975, 43%)
Amber color with shades of chestnut. Full, complex aromas of fruit (cherries, currants, berries), marzipan, Demerara sugar, roasted nuts, and molasses. Full in body, with flavors that deliver what its aroma promised. Satisfying finish.
Style: Northern Highland single malt scotch. Price: approximately $300. Extremely limited availability nationwide-only about 500 bottles for the entire United States (imported by Brown-Forman, 502/585-1100).
Once again, the folks at Glenmorangie have introduced us to a very entertaining and exotic expression. This is a very full-flavored whisky for a Glenmorangie. There is a beautiful balance between the sweetness of the whisky and the dry notes from the oak. Well worth its price if you can track down a bottle.
(4th Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#4
90
Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish, 18 year old, 1987 Vintage, 46%, $450
Waves of fruit (apple pie, orange marmalade, sultana, ripe pineapple), accented with notes of dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and spice (cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, evergreen), particularly on the finish. (In the past, I've thought that a couple of these limited edition Glemorangie wood finishes were a little overdone with the finishing, but not this one).
(1st Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#1)
90
Glenmorangie 1981 Sauternes Wood Finish (46%)
Style: Highland single malt scotch
Color: Golden honey
Aroma: Lush and mouthwatering. Notes of honey, peaches in syrup, golden raisins, coconut, vanilla, and background resinous oak.
Palate: Creamy and velvety in texture. Honey and fruit up front, with some oak notes, wood resins and vanilla mid-palate, becoming sweet again with a soothing finish.
General Comments: A delicious whisky and very atypical for Glenmorangie, which is usually lighter, more delicate, and more dry Glenmorangie 1981 Sauternes Wood Finish (cont.)
on the palate. The Glenmorangie distillery character does struggle to work its way through all that oak and Sauternes, but manages to do so mid-palate before disappearing again. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make, given all the other delicious flavors working here.
Price: $300. Only 1560 bottles nationwide (Brown-Forman Beverages, 502/585-1100).
(1st Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#1)
89
Glenmorangie Tain L'Hermitage Wood Finish, 1975 Vintage, 46%, $200
For those of you drinking whisky long enough, it was a Glenmorangie Tain L'Hermitage 1978 Vintage that kick-started this whole exotic finish trend by Glenmorangie about 10 years ago. That one wasn't sold here in the U.S., but this one is (although this one costs about four times as much as the original one did when it was released). Both were racked in used bourbon barrels before being finished in Hermitage red wine casks from northern Rhone. The best of these limited release Glenmorangies, like the Fino Sherry Finish expression several years ago, add complexity and intrigue without masking Glenmorangie's lovely subtle complexity. This one does a pretty good job of it, although there's a lot of fruit here (an obvious contribution of the wine). Complex fruit, with notes of plum, raspberry, nectarine, blueberries, and a hint of lemon. Underneath the fruit, there's nougat, dark chocolate and cocoa. Towards the finish, the whisky becomes nicely dry with oak lingering on the palate.
(4th Quarter 2005 Issue-Vol. 14#4)
88
Glenmorangie (15 year old, 43%)
Deep gold color. This whisky is finished off in new oak, and it certainly shows. There are lots of complex wood spices in this whisky, and it is intensely deep and mature for such a young age. There's a firmness to the whisky that's very appealing. It is exciting too, with notes of toasted oak, vanilla, and a hint of dark chocolate.
Style: Northern Highland single malt scotch. Price: mid $50s. Available nationwide. Imported by Brown-Forman Beverages, 502-585-1100.
If you like the wood spice notes in the 10 year old bottling, then you'll love this whisky.
(2nd Quarter 2000 Issue-Vol. 9#2)
87
Glenmorangie (1977 Vintage, 43%)
Style: Highland single malt scotch
Color: Gold
Aroma: Subtly complex and somewhat dry, with notes of vanilla, almonds, hay, freshly cut grass, and a hint of smoke.
Palate: Clean and malty up front, becoming dry as it begins to reveal its age, as the maltiness turns into a potpourri of spice and dried fruit. Dry on the finish and spicy-almost peppery. Its finish is big and long for a Glenmorangie whisky.
General Comments: This vintage replaces the 1971 Vintage in the United States. While its age (21 years old) is evident, especially on the whisky's finish, it is not austere. The quality of the casks keeps the oak influence a pleasant one.
Price: $200. Limited distribution nationwide (imported by Brown-Forman, 502/585-1100).
(4th Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#4)
82
Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish, 43%, $65
The newest whisky in the regular stable of wood-finished whiskies for Glenmorangie. Very fruity-sometimes reminiscent of overripe fruit; other times cooked fruit. In the mix, there's maple syrup, plum, almonds, and sweet barley notes. The whisky is peppered with spicy notes of toasted oak, cinnamon and vanilla. A whisky that is lush on the nose, chewy on the palate, with a finish of dried spices for balance. This whisky takes some getting used to, and it's not an every day whisky. You'll have to be in the right mood for it.
(4th Quarter 2004 Issue-Vol. 13#4)
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