ctbeck11
Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
March 22, 2021 (edited March 26, 2021)
Nose - cinnamon, nutmeg, pineapple, powdered sugar, cherry, marshmallow, brown sugar, grass, apple, prepared caramel, honey, fresh oak, cereal grain, pear, vanilla frosting, mild to moderate ethanol burn.
Taste - spiced honey, pineapple, brown sugar, caramel, creamy vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, baked apple, lemon zest, pear, cereal grain, sweet floral notes, sweet wine, barrel spice, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with honey, pineapple, and baking spice flavors.
If Glenmorangie was trying to create liquified pineapple upside-down cake, they definitely succeeded. This is a dessert dram to its core. The nose hits with pineapple, honey, strong baking spices, and citrus zest. The palate is similarly sweet and decadent. Again though, there’s some youthful graininess and sourness, which seem to be an unwelcome hallmarks of this series of Glenmorangie expressions.
Overall, I like this one better than the other releases I tasted this week, but not enough to raise the score. I’d be interested in tasting a more aged Glenmorangie to see if some of that bright graininess is subdued. Maybe the Glenmorangie profile just isn’t for me. Many thanks to @jonwilkinson7309 for the sample. This concludes my Glenmorangie tasting series. I’m not sure what I’ll be tasting tomorrow, so it’ll be surprise for us all.
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@CKarmios I’ve heard very good things about GF, but have little experience with it myself. I’ll be doing a review series in the coming weeks on some samples I have.
@ctbeck11 Did someone say Glenfarclas? 😀
@CKarmios I bet you’re right. And it’s probably why a good portion of us find it generally underwhelming. Gimme some whiskey from short, fat, dirty stills.
I think what you’re getting - and not enjoying from what you’re saying - is the actual intrinsic taste of the GM newmake. They have the tallest stills in Scotland which produce some of the lightest, nuanced spirit. You’re probably translating that into a light fruit/citric sour metallic graininess.
@ContemplativeFox Yep, the Signet has been on my watch list for some time. I just can’t bring myself to shell out the ~$200 for it. I’ll try to find it in a restaurant some time to test it out.
@ctbeck11 of you get a chance to sample the Signet, I'd recommend it. I'm not totally sure it's worth the bottle price, but it definitely tastes older and richer with some nice (albeit sometimes kind of subtle) complexities. I wasn't blown away by the 18 and I doubt you would be either based on what you've said about these various other expressions.
@WhiskyWitch Yea, it’s not for me either. I imagine the older age statements may remedy some of that bright, citric graininess, but I’m not buying a bottle to test that theory.
Glenmorangie 10 was the first bottle I ever bought, and I was never a fan of that citrusy tartness in it. This "cask finish menagerie" sometimes feels more like a bug fix than a gimmick; almost like the Original is a naked lemon sponge and someone just remembered to...frost the cake 😎 *roll credits*
@Grumpious Unless you’re a big fan of the Glenmorangie profile, I’d say it’s better to try than to buy. Though, I think it’s one that would work well as an introduction to scotch for beginners, since it’s exceedingly pleasant.
@Dean-M-Tzobanakis I hadn’t read his comment specifically, but had seen some YouTube videos around the time of the release which listed that as a tasting note. So I think I was primed to find it. One reason why blind tasting is the best way to take notes, but it’s impractical the majority of the time.
Great review! Still looking to try this but can’t seem to find a pour or bottle up here in great white North. Sounds like it’s pretty average so I’m not missing too much
Dr. Lumsden emphasized the pineapple upside down cake notes in his tasting of this, but I didn’t get them. Very perceptive of you to point it out in almost his exact words!