A tasting of Glenmorangie whisky

Last month I attended a horizontal tasting — a tasting of a selection of products from a single producer — of Glenmorangie single malt scotch whisky at the Fairmont Palliser hotel. Glenmorangie is a classic scotch brand and one of the most drinkable. The whiskies are smooth and enjoyable, and depending on your budget, relatively affordable.

The tasting was led by Andrew Ferguson of Kensington Wine Market. Ferguson is a well-known scotch whisky expert; I’ve known him for years and you would be hard-pressed to find a more knowledgeable or passionate whisky advocate out there.

Ferguson’s “Malt Messenger” newsletter is a great way to learn more about whisky. You can sign up for the newsletter at kensingtonwinemarket.com.

Our scotch tasting included Glenmorangie’s current range of whiskies, as well as the Glenmorangie Pride, which is limited to only 1000 bottles worldwide and has a price tag to match.

Here are my tasting notes from the session:

Glenmorangie La Santa

This sherry cask-finished whisky is golden-coloured, with honey, cereal, pineapple and fresh straw notes. It reminded me of baklava or honey drizzled pastries. On the tongue, there are raisin, vanilla and orange peel notes, with a warming spice character. A little water should help open the aromas. It retails for approximately $65-$80 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 3.5/5

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

This scotch derives its name from its port cask finish. A “quinta” is a farm or vineyard estate in Portugal, and “ruban” hints at the ruby port casks used for the finishing. It has aromas of chocolate, raspberry, raisin, mint, rustic berry and earth on the nose. In the mouth there is good red fruit expression, with a little bitter chocolate to accompany the spice and nuttiness. Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to make the scotch really shine. It retails for approximately $65-$80 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 3/5

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

Slightly burnt gold in the glass, the Nectar is finished in Sauternes casks. It has beautiful honey, pineapple, spiced apple, lemon zest, ginger, cinnamon spice, caramel and apple pie filling notes. The palate is very consistent with nose, showing brigh citrus and lemon pie flavours. I daresay that it’s almost feminine, and definitely a pretty spirit. It retails for approximately $70-$90 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 4.5/5

Glenmorangie 18 Year Old

The Glenmorangie 18 Year Old replaces the previously available 15 Year Old. The 18 is finished in oloroso sherry casks and it is slightly orange-gold-coloured in the glass, with spice, cereal grain, honey, ginger, lemon, coconuts, peach and mild vanilla tones. Rich and full on the palate, with an almost silky texture, and toasted coconut and tangy grapefruit flavours. Lengthy and expressive in the mouth, this is very enjoyable to drink. It retails for approximately $100-$180 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 4.5/5

Glenmorangie Signet

The Signet is quite unique and made from roasted barley, bringing stylish and incredible aromas and flavours. Look for coffee, leather, ground coffee bean, espresso, spice, earth, herb, grain, orange zest and much, much more. If you love both coffee and scotch, and hesitated to put the two together, you will love this. It retails for approximately $230 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 5/5

Glenmorangie Quarter Century (25 Year Old)

Like any 25 year old whisky, the Quarter Century carries a hefty price tag. Look for orange peel, honey, lemon/lime, grains, vanilla, coconut, flowers, cinnamon stick and mint on the nose. It’s quite spicy in the mouth, with ginger, sweet vanilla and beautiful creaminess. The long finish can be counted in minutes and delivers both complexity and style. Expect to pay between $450 and $630 per bottle in Canada. Rating: 4.5/5

Glenmorangie Pride 1981

A flagship scotch, the Pride was distilled in 1981, barrel-aged for 18 years, aged for another 10 years in casks from Sauternes’ famous Château d’Yquem, and then bottled at cask strength of 56.7 percent. If that weren’t enough, it comes in a beautiful Baccarat decanter and cantilevered box that almost resembles a Victorian-era TIE fighter (from Star Wars) when opened.

The whisky has aromas of paraffin, honey, leather, heather, dried fruits, barley, smoke and pear, with plenty of spice and clove notes. It is creamy and silky in the mouth, with lemon and spice flavours, and a little toasty and nutty quality to go with the wild flower/honey character. Really something special. The Pride is extremely limited in availability (1000 bottles worldwide) and retails for approximately $4500 per bottle. (If your kid were to sneak two ounces into his bottle of coke, it would cost you about $350.) Rating: 5/5