Category Archives: Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish NAS
Whisky: Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish NAS, 43%
No price available
This older expression, and its associated range from the same time, where Glenmorangie’s releases as a result of their experimentation with various wood finishes. As such this Sherry Wood Finish can be considered the father to the current day Lasanta expression, available as of late 2007.
Nose: A sweet and rich Christmas cake saturated in sherry and juicy raisins, along with generous amounts of stewed fruits, including cherries, cranberries, plums and prunes, and notes of wet oak.
Taste: Full-bodied with an immediately intense, simmering spiciness. Viscous mouthfeel, and layers of sherry and wood. The sherry and spice dominate making it sadly rather one-dimensional.
Finish: A smooth warming end that balances the surprising spice on the palette, and leaves the lips lighted coated with less spicy and little more sweeter finish.
My Score: 78
A rich and powerful sherried dram with few smooth touches; there is a lack of integration here between the spirit and the sherry finish. Still enjoyable though, but the current Lasanta is definitely a few points higher.
Other Scores: JM’09 84
Glenmorangie Signet NAS
Whisky: Glenmorangie Signet NAS, 46% ABV
R1900 ≈ £172
The Glenmorangie Signet was first released in 2008, and now 2 years later is finally available in SA. This whisky is unique in that a portion (15-20%) of the spirit is made using heavily-roasted chocolate malt. This is not a different variety of barley, but it is dried and roasted for longer than other malts. Although this is a NAS it does contain whiskies up to 35 years old and is aged in a variety of casks including: sherry, refill and virgin charred oak, and wine barrels. Glenmorangie are very tight-lipped about any specific details though.
Nose: A soothing and complex combination of toasted oak, apricot marmalade and peanut brittle.
Taste: A lovely oily thickness with melted dark chocolate over fresh coffee beans all served up in a bowl made of oak. Loads of intensity but well balanced and deep.
Finish: Powerful stuff that ever so gently meanders its way to a warm glowing after-coffee greatness. Several moments after swallowing your mouth still resonates with a café aftermath.
My Score: 85
Glenmorangie have done a great job with this one. The unconventionality has inconspicuously weaved its way through this entire dram resulting in a wonderfully complex and unique drink. I don’t think it’s worth the high [South African] asking price though.
Other Scores: JM’09 93, JH 82, JH 88, SV 87
Disclaimer: Although I’ve tried this before I’m able to post completed notes due to a free sample received from the SA Glenmorangie brand ambassador. This in no way affected my review.
