Our Nurnberg International Whisky group continued our journey with a tasting set quartet from Glenmorangie, exploring the impact of different finishes on the same ‘base’. This was joined by an extra “bonus” – a Cragganmore Port finish to compare with the Glenmorangie Port finish.

Bucking the trend towards mostly no-age statements, the Glenmorangie standards typically disclose their age. Their Master Distiller – Dr Bill Lumsden shared in a previous tasting the work that goes into bringing consistency to each expression, often including barrels that are much older than the stated year.

• 10 year “The Original” 40%
• 12 year “The Lasanta” Sherry Finish 43%
• 14 year “Quinta Ruban” Port Finish 46%
• Nectar d’Or Sauternes Finish 46%

The original Glenmorangie 10 year old was released more than 175 years ago by our founders. It’s famous for its mellow tones and delicacy of flavour.

Glenmorangie 10 year “The Original” 40%

• Nose – Delicious pears, ripe peaches, lemon, heather, honey, a lovely perfume, and a touch of vanilla, as it opened further there was even a bit of bubblegum
• Palate – Honey sweet, hint of spring, floral, more warm peach, touch of orange, beautiful balance
• Finish – Light bitterness

It was like welcoming back a familiar yet long-lost friend. It had been far too many years since I’d enjoyed The Original. Such a classic – refined, nuanced, and simply delicious! There is a lovely elegance about the Glenmorangie 10 year.

Again remembering a previous tasting experience led by Bill Lumsden, I recalled how he shared that the 10-year is truly the foundation for all his expressions and experiments. Aged in ex-bourbon casks, it has a light – even delicate – a character that is mild enough to be versatile.

I’ll admit that I keep forgetting how reasonable alcohol prices are in Germany. A mere Eur 35?? Can that really be? Some suggested this might make a good ‘calibration‘ whisky, however, it would also be a tough act to follow!

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And yet that is exactly what we did… followed up The Original with The Lasanta – to explore the impact of just 2 additional years and time spent in ex-Sherry barrels….

The Lasanta 12 years old has been matured it in bourbon and sherry casks, transforming it into a mouth-watering odyssey bursting with rich spiciness and sun-drenched sweetness.

Glenmorangie 12 year “The Lasanta” Sherry Finish 43%

• Nose – Initially greets you with wood, spice, then sweetness, juicy plums, and over time, opened into a lovely chocolate mocha
• Palate – Dry, a bit spicy, what we could best describe as chewing tobacco, soft plums, juicy raisins, a hint of ginger
• Finish – Warm sweet spices with more of that mouth-watering mocha

We quite enjoyed this one – particularly how it is a terrific contrast with The Original. We found the sherry certainly made an impact – and yet it was a lovely layering on top of a beautiful base. After 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, much like The Original, this was followed by 18 – 36 months in ex-Olorosso and PX sherry casks.

Here’s what the folks at Glenmorangie have to say:

This whisky is Dr Bill’s attempt to bottle the magic of sunset, with its endless horizon of reds, oranges and purples.

The Lasanta begins with our giraffe-high stills, which yield a deliciously delicate and fruity spirit. Next, we mature it in bourbon and sherry casks for 12 years, transforming it into a mouth-watering odyssey bursting with rich spiciness and sun-drenched sweetness.

It radiates with raisins, honeycomb and chocolate-covered hazelnuts lightened by cinnamon breezes.

Each time you watch the sunset, you see something different – this is how it is to drink Lasanta.

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Next up was a shift from Sherry to Port casks from Portugal with the Quinta Ruban….

The Quinta Ruban 14 years old has been matured in port casks. It has incredible flavour combinations. Walnut and black pepper. Mandarin orange and melted marshmallow.

Glenmorangie 14 year “The Quinta Ruban” Port Finish 46%

• Nose – Chewy! One found hot rubber, a touch nutty, some pepper, then as it spent more time in the glass revealing rich dark fruits
• Palate – Oily, ginger, pepper, spicy, chocolate, more of that nutty element, some sweet spices, and something else not so easy to define…
• Finish – Long and strong, chocolate mint

This one takes a bit of time to open up. I remembered it being one of the 1st Port finishes that I really enjoyed – the kind of whisky you want to have in your glass when curling up in an old leather chair with a warm fire, good music, and simply relaxing.

Here’s what the folks at Glenmorangie have to say in their official tasting notes:

Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or is like sending your senses on holiday to a French pastry shop, where the air swirls with sweet scents, balanced by a soft drumbeat of spice. A truly incredible whisky.

Glenmorangie “Nectar d’Or” Sauternes Finish 46%

• Nose – Boiled sweets, light yet somehow missing some of the nuanced, complex character of The Original, as it opened – could find a bit of caramel cream
• Palate – Fruity without it being easy to determine one in particular – like a mixed fruit pie, mixed in were some nuts, cinnamon spice, honey, and ginger
• Finish – An aftertaste of candy – back to the boiled sweets!

My first reaction was “Citrus, wherefore art thou?” My prior recollection of this expression was of a delightful interplay between citrus and sweet – like a delicious lemon tart. Don’t get me wrong – this is still a fine dram, but I missed what I remembered which had various citrus elements – from kumquat to an Indian sweet lime mosambi.

It could also be tasting order. Most found this rather robust, it was not the delicate elegant 10 year. However, it also didn’t have the richness added by the Sherry or Port. The Sauterne’s sweet white wine influence was more subtle, making this more like the “desert” of our tasting evening.

Overall what a treat to try a Glenmorangie flight like this!

Curious about other Glenmorangie experiences? Then read on…

• 10 year “The Original: 40%
• 10 year (1995/2006) Cask 13038, Bottle 45, 59.3%
• 12 year “The Lasanta” Sherry Finish 46%
• 19 year 43%
• Bacalta 46%, Dornoch 43%, Duthac 43%, The Tayne 43%
• Evening with Dr Bill Lumsden – The Original 10 year, 18 year, 25 year + Signet
• An interview with Bill Lumsden

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