The 5th most sold single malt in the world is Glenmorangie and since 2008 is having a constant growth thanks to the “Louis Vuitton cure” (like for Ardbeg, LVMH bought the distillery in 2004). Two are the
characteristics we like to highlight: first of all the fact that this distillery always has a particular sense for curious casks, making barely legal experiments (we’re joking), but mainly focusing a great deal of attention to the wood (for example, Glenmorangie owns a piece of land in the Kentucky forest on the Ozark Mountains). Famous are also their very tall stills, the tallest in Scotland, able to produce a very
delicate spirit. Today we try the 18 years, and even if part of the core range, has written “extremely rare” on the label: if you ask yourself why, just ask Loius Vuitton. The color is gold.
N: very intense, starting from a nice biscuit-y malt, structured and beautifully “highland”, with mineral hints and wet soil. The real starring is the fruit, both yellow (ripe pear, yellow plum, grape, yellow apple) and tropical (what an intensity! Maracuja, pineapple). Very rich and completed by a feeling of sugary vanilla, candied fruit and glaze. A sprinkle of citrus (bergamot..); fresh but with personality, showing at times nice notes of wood warming under the sun.
P: very coherent with the nose, delicate and soft, but very rich. You can really feel the bourbon base (vanilla and a lot of coconut) followed by an omnipresent fruit (pears and apples, orange and pineapple super intense), that coats your palate. Seems also creamy with malty notes, at times even slightly bitter. Good.
F: medium long and pleasant, lots of malt, very clean with hints of coconut and pineapple.
Elegant and tasty; it always seems to reach greatness but it lacks that quid of intensity and complexity, in particular on the palate. Anyway, we can’t complain for sure: a good 87/100 is our vote.
Recommended soundtrack: Daft Punk – Giorgio by Moroder.
