@cascode The Port-finished Glendronachs are middle of the road, I tasted several of them but didn't buy a bottle. The 2007 Tobermory was pretty decent, I might even buy a second bottle. Intense flavors, but you could still pick up the maritime style behind the Port notes. Lovely.

@Slainte-Mhath That was the 2007 12 year old, yes? I looked for a bottle after reading your review but there is none in stock over here. I did find a 30ml sampler of it, which I'll be reviewing soon. The only other port finishes that spring to mind are the Arran, which is a core range bottling now, I think, and the Bunnahabhain Aonadh which I review recently. It's a decent dram but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. I think Glendronach do a port finish as well, if so I've not tried it.

@cascode I reviewed a Tobermory finished in Tawny Port Pipes a couple of weeks ago, which was even better but admittedly also more expensive (bottled at cask strength). However, there are not so many options when it comes to Port-matured whiskies.

@Slainte-Mhath Back to the whisky ... I had a bottle of the earlier version of this a couple of years ago and it was OK but did not wow me. This 14 year old sounds better - I must get a bottle.

@Slainte-Mhath Yes, I was thinking of LBV but had it in my memory that some is matured in pipes rather than tuns, but I may be wrong about that. If it's not and they are definitely using what they call "ruby port casks" then I can't imagine what they are. Maybe casks re-coopered from retired tuns?

@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington he ( @cascode ) seriously needs to write a book. I’d buy it.

I came for the whiskey review but stayed for the educational opportunity on port… @cascode never ceases to pull punches, going so far as to clarify the pronunciation of Gaelic words… this is why I love this place

@cascode Are you referring to Late Bottled Vintage? After Tawny, it's my preferred style of Port. Some LBV might be matured in pipes, but at least the cheaper stuff is matured in large wooden vatting tanks as well.

@soonershrink $40 is a steal for this bottle. It's about $55 in Europe, and $75 in Norway. Even with these ridiculous alc taxes, I am very satisfied with this bottle.

@Slainte-Mhath As you say, ruby port is generally un-oaked, but it can be cask matured and there is also a crossover style between ruby and vintage port that does receive a year or two of aging in pipes. It is probably these casks that Glenmorangie is using. Quinta Ruban is a strange name, too. A quinta is equivalent to a bodega (more or less) but “ruban” is just a made up word. The obvious intended meaning is to suggest “ruby (casks) from small producers”, but it’s completely contrived. I have seen many sites claiming that “ruban” is scottish gaelic for “ruby” but that’s not correct. Ruby is “rubaidh” in gaelic – the dh is silent and it’s pronounced “roo-bay”. I guess Glenmorangie didn’t want to follow the Bunnahabhain path of unpronounceable gaelic names.

At under $40 around here, it's one of the best deals in single malts.

@LouisianaLonghorn Thanks, the new expression is two years older than the previous version, and it's certainly not worse!

@islay_emissary I agree, Quinta Ruban is a good choice, and it is remarkable that it is non-chill filtered, natural color and bottled at 46% ABV.

Been a few years since I’ve had this and it was the old version. Might be time to give it a try again. Lovely review.

@Slainte-Mhath - yes, if you like a portwood finish, this is the best value proposition out there. It killed me to pay $20 for this recently at Capital Grill, but they were out if Lagavulin 16! 🤪

Additional information: Matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then finished for 4 years in Ruby Port casks. Now I am not entirely sure if the Port in these casks was sacrificed, as Ruby Port is usually held in large vatting tanks prior to bottling, unlike Tawny Port which is actually matured in Port Pipes.