Glenmorangie is, quite simply, the one of most delicious and complex single malt whisky in the world. Its multi-layered aromas and kaleidoscopic flavours stimulate the senses and entice the palate. The New wood and cask finishes make the entire range, quite exciting.
This beautifully seductive spirit originates in the heart of the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie distillery, it is first captured by elegant, swan necked stills that are the tallest in Scotland, and then expertly matured in the finest oak casks.Undeniably the most complex and perfectly balanced single malt, every sip of Glenmorangie offers a heady and alluring experience in taste, texture and aroma. At its core is a small group of men with immense skill and enviable knowledge. The craftsmen of Glenmorangie, the patient patrons of quality and excellence, they are the backbone of the Distillery, they are the legendary Sixteen Men of Tain.
These sixteen individuals are the living embodiment of our founder’s vision, the unofficial guardians of our malt, who still, to this day, use the time-honoured, traditional skills that have passed from generation to generation. Together they ensure Glenmorangie is made in the same, unhurried and uncompromised way it always has been since 1843.
I tasted the Glenmorangie 18 YO, one of the older variants in the range. The Tasting Notes of the golden nectar have been well described.
The cornucopia of an autumn harvest festival table describes the over flowing abundance of arresting aromas that tantalise at the first nose of Glenmorangie 18 Years Old. The rich, resinous quality of nuts cascades into a crisp toffee sweetness of crème brulée, merging with caressingly smooth, creamy vanilla. Hints of vibrant oranges & lemons are found. Crunchy textured walnuts follow, oozing into golden honeycomb that trickles over sun-ripened sticky dates. Then sparkling floral tones emerge, taking the edge off any cloying sweetness, with the green, almost herbal bouquet of geranium, tempered with musky jasmine and the bright, sharp clarity of narcissus.
With water, 18 Years Old reveals a rich oaken, balsamic character that yields to soft vanilla. At this moment, the signature Glenmorangie fruity complex reveals itself in golden apricots and dates mingled with hazelnuts. Glenmorangie 18 Years Old slips like silk over the tongue with a full, rounded flavour, starting with grapefruit & orange. The palate is then entranced with an accord of melting honey, creamy malt and aromatic florals that segue into the warm, syrupy nuttiness of hazelnuts and walnuts from the Oloroso sherry casks in which the whisky is matured. Savour the rich, sticky date and fig flavours as they are heightened by the unexpected caress of woodsmoke. Lingering and enticing with the subtle sweetness of dried fruit and the nutty dryness of sherry.
