Glenmorangie 18 Year

Pies on the nose - lemon merengue and strawberry-rhubarb. Some sour apple creeps in. Also butter and malt. Slight sting on the nose, surprisingly. Very acidic on the palate, with a spiciness that follows through and lingers all the way down. Spice, not heat. It actually numbs the mouth after a while. The buttery pie crust is there. But mostly this is tart, acidic fruit, and malty, no mistaking what kind of whisky this is. Medium sweetness. The sherry influence is light, very light, and straightforward, not funky. Slight bitterness lingers. 8/28/18

#WhiskeyBattle between 2 fine 18 year-old #Highland #SingleMaltScotches: #Glenmorangie18 (43% ABV) vs. #Tomatin18 (46%). Reviewed on 7/15/2018. ....…......….…........................................................................... NOSE: Slight edge to Glenmorangie 18, which radiates delicate scents of vanilla, coconut, orange, bright honey, and apricot. Tomatin 18 also has pleasant notes of rum raisin, candied walnuts, thick manuka honey, and bitter citrus (grapefruit). 91 for Glenmormagie and 90 for Tomatin. ....…......….…........................................................................... PALATE: Now this is where Tomatin’s thicker and natural color/filtration provide richer flavors of dark chocolate, orange, toffee, and maple syrup. Glenmorangie is more delicate (and thinner) but has rich flavors of vanilla custard, toffee, green grapes, and orange blossom honey. Glenmorangie reminds me of a rich and buttery Chardonnay. 92 for Tomatin and 91 for Glenmorangie. ....…......….…........................................................................... FINISH: I have to admit that the first sip of Tomatin was too spicy for me — think ginger and peppermint. It has a spicy and dry finish that opens up more flavors with a dash of water. Glenmornage has a sweet, medium finish with a grassy note. Tomatin gets a 91 and Glenmormagie gets an 88. ....…......….…........................................................................... OVERALL: Tomatin gets an extra point for the extra ABV, #nochillfiltration, and #nocoloradded. Tomatin gets 92 and Glenmorangie gets 90. ....…......….…........................................................................... VALUE FOR MONEY: Tomatin 18 is a much better buy at $80 USD vs. Glenmorangie 18 that sells for $100 to $120 USD. Glenmorangie has a nice packaging, but Tomatin has better content — and better craftsmanship. VFM goes to Tomatin 18. Go buy a bottle before their prices rise. ....…......….…........................................................................... @glenmorangie @glenmorangieusa @tomatinwhisky

Wow, just plain wow!! Candied fruits, Wood!!

A fine malt, but I just expected the 18 to be a bit more refined. I like the Glenfiddich better. 90