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Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch 12 Year

Δεν είχα συμπαθήσει ποτέ τα Μalts, μέχρι που δοκίμασα ένα αρκετά αμφισβητούμενο από τους λάτρεις του είδους. Το Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky. Εκεί άρχισα να αλλάζω γνώμη, υπάρχει κάποιο malt και για μένα! Επειδή δεν έχω τις γνώσεις για να το περιγράψω με σαφήνεια, προτιμώ να περιοριστώ σε κάποια σχόλια που βρήκα στο διαδίκτυο.

A remarkable malt, antique gold in colour: golden but with a rosy hue. This whisky has been matured for at least 12 years in American white oak casks and racked for several years into Ruby Port pipes for 'finishing'.
With a drop of water, the key aromas are of butterscotch and dark chocolate, but with fresh, minty notes and a trace of dryness, like lint. There is some sandalwood here, and citric fruit - oranges, perhaps tangerine - even a hint of allspice. With a little more water, lighter scents begin to emerge: grass and hay, hazelnuts and candied peel. The mouth-feel is voluptuously smooth, like sipping velvet. The entire palate is engaged - a most interesting and complex balance of sweet and dry flavours. the bitter chocolate, noted as an aroma is apparent, and the fresh minty-ness. In the satisfying, lingering finish a hint of port reveals itself for the first time, this and walnuts. A remarkable whisky, perfect after a good meal, or to savour at any time.

Pros: Fruity, caramel malt
Cons: Loses some character as a Scotch whisky; a bit compromised
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended to those looking for a sweet Highland malt with a relatively unusual wood finish.
Full Review
I'm trying to think exactly when I first sampled Glenmorangie. I can think of two places, but I'm not quite sure which came first. One was surely an Oyster Bar, the other a little Bistro where the ex and I went for an early evening drink. Although the Speysides and Highlands can get a bit hard to distinguish at times, this whisky differentiated itself from its neighbours --- a smooth blend of sweetness with a tingling pepper, and a touch of peat.
It was therefore with a little flutter of excitement that, one day in a BA Business Class lounge, I noticed a bottle of Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish available for the taking on the bar. Sitting next to it was a bottle of Glenfiddich's Solera Reserve. Never one to regret chances untaken, I decided to do a parallel tasting. The Glenfiddich was more interesting than its 10 year old sister, but it was, overall, the relatively uninspired spirit you head for when Fathers' Day is too near for consideration. But the Glenmorangie PWF was a delight. There was a wonderful combination of oaken chocolate with the starting Highland spirit that reminded me somewhat of Macallan, but without its more vinous character.
I acquired a bottle a few months back and have been enjoying it ever since, in the company of some quite impressive whiskies. Here are my tasting notes.
Colour: The colour of wild honey, with a tinge of rose gold and copper. The malt is slightly oily, although less so than an Islay. A singularly attractive spirit.
Nose: Very rich and sweet. At the top, we find a toasty oak with vanilla characteristics, that gives way to a heady cocoa. Deeper in, we return to the white pepper and heathery peat characteristic of Glenmorangie.
Palate: Here, perhaps, the spirit fails to be 100% convincing. There's something about this malt that is not quite an idiomatic Scotch whisky. It tastes like something half way between a malt whisky and a cognac. That's not at all undesirable, but it may explain why some folks don't care for this spirit much. Much of what we detect in the nose comes through in the palate. The initial touch is dry and tingly, but the sweetness of the malt builds up apace and dominates. The finish however is initially more nutty than sweet, with some residual and attractive pepper, but the sweetness again returns a little later.
Overall, a fine, if somewhat idiosyncratic malt.

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