Category: 12 years

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 Review

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 is the classic unpeated Benriach aged for 12 years in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon. Which, if I’m being honest because we’re all friends here, is my least favorite of the potential sherry casks to age in. It’s not a “deal breaker” for me, I’ve had plenty of delicious […]

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BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 is the classic unpeated Benriach aged for 12 years in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon. Which, if I’m being honest because we’re all friends here, is my least favorite of the potential sherry casks to age in.

BenRiach 12 Years - 2009 Cask 3812 Review

It’s not a “deal breaker” for me, I’ve had plenty of delicious PX aged and finished whiskies, but it is the one I just happen to like the least. Not because it’s inherently terrible or anything, but because it’s often too cloying, too powerful, and what’s in my glass resembles leathery brown sugar. Like Port, it seems to be a tricky cask to work with, but, when you get one that’s well-balanced, PX-finished whisky can be quite delicious.

Now, let’s get to drinkin’ and see where this one falls.

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: Benriach

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Pedro Ximénez Puncheon
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 58.2%

Barrel: 3812
Bottles: 642

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 Price: $100*

Related Whiskey

BenRiach Peated Oloroso Single Barrel
Benriach 25 Years
Benriach The Twelve
Benriach Malting Season
Benriach Cask Strength

White background tasting shot with the BenRiach 12 Years - 2009 Cask 3812 sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“At Benriach we believe we are the sum of our experiences – the product of the people, places and influences that shape us as we journey through life.” – Benriach

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Malty, milk chocolate, brown sugar, dried dark fruit, oak, graham.

Kind of light, even with water there isn’t a ton happening, but what is, is nice.

PALATE
Oaky, malty, dried orchard fruit, char, brown sugar and some Sunkist fruit gems with a bit of baking spice and tannic bite.

It’s a nice warm flavor, but kind of odd the way the oak is prominent here, it reminds me a bit of a very good American Single Malt with the tannic bite.

FINISH
Med-Long -> Oaky, dried fruit and baking spice fade out with a bit of cocoa and brown sugar.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium-full body and a warm oily feel.

BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 – Overall Thoughts and Score

Oaky brown sugar… this is nice. It’s a bit odd, it’s interesting, it’s different for a PX, but it’s also nice. The overall, slightly-tannic, profile I associate more with American Single Malt Whiskey. Still, there is a bit more of a refinement to it that isn’t easily found in its American counterparts.

What I’d really like to see is this BenRiach 12 Years – 2009 Cask 3812 done with the peated mash bill instead of the unpeated. With how heavy and bold PX can be I feel a peated spirit could hold up to this better and bring even more complexity to this equation.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)

*Disclosure: The sample for this Scotch review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

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BenRiach 12 Years - 2009 Cask 3812 Label

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Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Review

I know the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is made from 100% ex-Bourbon casks because it’s front and center on Springbank’s website. It’s a small thing to do, but a huge piece of info for whisky nerds. A small detail by Springbank to show they know their fans and what they want to know. Whisky […]

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I know the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is made from 100% ex-Bourbon casks because it’s front and center on Springbank’s website. It’s a small thing to do, but a huge piece of info for whisky nerds. A small detail by Springbank to show they know their fans and what they want to know.

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Review

Whisky nerds love Springbank and whisky nerds love details. Giving info about the whisky is a low-lift way for brands to pull fans in deeper while also generating more curiosity about the brand and whisky in general. I wish more would do this very simple thing.

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength- Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Campbeltown, Scotland
Distiller: Springbank

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 12
ABV: 56.2%

Batch: 2018

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Price: $120

Related Whiskey

Springbank 10 Years
Springbank 15 Years
Springbank Local Barley 16 Years
1993 The Bottlers Springbank 16 Years
1995 Sovereign Springbank 22 Years

White background tasting shot with the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Always bottled at cask strength, this is a wonderfully balanced dram that boasts a smooth, buttery body and rich, fruity palate. Add a drop of water to release milk chocolate and vanilla notes.” – Springbank

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Tasting Notes

EYE
Dark amber

NOSE
Caramel, graham, vanilla, honey, roasted nuts, smoke, cinnamon and a light bit of banana bread and Springbank funk.

This is a heavy, heady aroma that rolls through the senses warmly.

PALATE
Smoke, caramel, banana chips, dried orchard fruit, vanilla, Honey Nut Cheerios and some oaky notes.

Not quite as complex and robust as the aroma, but every bit as rich and deep.

FINISH
Long -> Caramel, graham, and honey fade to spice and smoke.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced and full-bodied with a heavy oily feel.

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength – Overall Thoughts and Score

This is a big whisky. A heavy, bold, rich whisky that coats the senses and delivers a complex tasting and sniffing experience. It’s light on that signature Springbank note until you add water and then it’s right there, in your face. Literally. And speaking of adding water.

A splash dulls down the smoke a tad and brings out more of the fruity and vanilla/candy-like notes. It also gives it a slightly waxier feel and makes for a more well-rounded experience. Though, we’re talking about quarter steps not full steps here, straight out of the bottle the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is a darn good whisky.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

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Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Back Label

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Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon Review

The difference between the Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon and the regular Puncher’s Chance is a state line. I mean, there’s also age and the use of a finishing barrel here, but outside of those minor things, it’s a state line. The 90-proof PC is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon (likely sourced from Barton), […]

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The difference between the Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon and the regular Puncher’s Chance is a state line. I mean, there’s also age and the use of a finishing barrel here, but outside of those minor things, it’s a state line.

Puncher's Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon Review

The 90-proof PC is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon (likely sourced from Barton), but this D12tance is a Tennessee Bourbon finished in Cab Sauv Barrels and there’s only one distillery that lets 12-year-old whiskey out of its doors… or is there?

Normally I’d lay the source of this whiskey at the feet of Dickel, but PC’s man at IJW, Kevin Curtis, has deep Brown-Forman ties. So, does this mean it could actually be Jack Daniels? I don’t know and they’re not saying. The best I can do is taste it and see what the liquid tells me.

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Style: Bourbon (Finished)
Region: Tennessee, USA
Distiller: Undisclosed (likely George Dickel)

Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak, ex-Cab Sauv
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 48%

Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon Price: $130*

Related Whiskey

Puncher’s Chance Bourbon
George Dickel Bonded 13 Years
Peg Leg Porker 12 Years
1792 Barton 12 Years
Blue Run Bourbon 

White background tasting shot with the Puncher's Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“It takes courage and perseverance to make it to the 12th Round of a fight — that’s why it’s called “the distance” round.” – Puncher’s Chance

Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruddy brown

NOSE
Oak, Dried dark fruit, corn meal, strawberry Necco, brown sugar, burnt butter ice cream, baking spice, bits of orchard fruit and nuts.

Nice. Warm, fruity, oaky, spicy wonderful whiskey.

PALATE
Oak, dried dark fruit, corn meal, strawberry Necco, brown sugar, dark honey, toffee, vanilla, baking spice and nuts.

Good, just a good solid whiskey, nothing at all to complain about.

FINISH
Med-long -> Oak, darkly fruity, darkly sweet and baking spice.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced, med-full body and a velvety feel.

Puncher’s Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon – Overall Thoughts and Score

The design might look like something from a Connor McGregor project, but the whiskey is good. Oaky, darkly fruity and darkly sweet with some heavily characteristic whiskey. This is the kind of thing I enjoy, this is a whiskey I want regularly and as it opens a very familiar profile starts to peek through… Dickel anyone?

It’s obviously a guess, but the corn meal notes do hit the profile. They’re not saying where it’s from, but unless Mr. Curtis was able to work some intense magic with the Brown-Forman folks, who never let Jack Daniel’s out for an indie, the only other source that would have whiskey this old in TN is Dickel. And they have a lot of aged stock to go around.

So, net-net, it appears to be a 12 yo George Dickel finished in Cab Suav barrels and bottled at 48%. I wish it had been at least 50%, but it’s quite tasty here at 96 proof.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

*Disclosure: The sample for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Puncher's Chance 12 Years The D12tance Bourbon Label

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Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt Review

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt is the latest, permanent, release from the venerable distillery. It’s made using a marriage of 11+-year-old ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks that have been married and finished in ex-Marsala casks for 6-9 months. In a way, it’s like a baby Bushmills 21, or Bushmills 16, but with Marsala instead of Madeira […]

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Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt is the latest, permanent, release from the venerable distillery. It’s made using a marriage of 11+-year-old ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks that have been married and finished in ex-Marsala casks for 6-9 months. In a way, it’s like a baby Bushmills 21, or Bushmills 16, but with Marsala instead of Madeira or Port.

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt Review

I love Bushmills… LOVE Bushmills. I’ve been a fan for over a decade and a half and I think they create not only some of the best Irish Whiskey, but some of the best sipping whiskey period… I just wish they’d bottle at least at 46% and NCF.

I’ve though this for a long time, and after trying some of the cask strength specialty casks a couple of years ago I’m even more of a believer in this. Until I tried them in that form I had no idea that on top of being more flavorful at higher proof and NCF, they’d also pick up a wonderful waxy texture.

The flavor I assumed would get a bit bolder, but that texture… wow. It was like some of the best waxy Clynelish SiBs I’ve had. I was shocked and I think if they did more in that form, specifically NCF, they’d go from having good whiskey to completley exceptional whisky across the board.

Alright, I’m stepping off the soapbox – let’s get to drinkin’!

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Irish)
Region: Ireland
Distiller: Bushmills

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Oloroso, ex-Marsala
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 40%

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt Price: $60*

Related Whiskey

Bushmills White Label
Bushmills Black Bush
Bushmills 10 Years
Bushmills 16 Years
Bushmills 21 Years

White background tasting shot with the Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Now available for the first time in America, the Bushmills 12 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey is a full-bodied, deep amber whiskey that is both complex and approachable.” – Bushmills

 

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt Tasting Notes

EYE
Light amber

NOSE
Dried apples, peaches, pears, strawberry taffy, malt, wax and a touch of vanilla beans.

I want to live in this aroma, it’s elegant, balanced and just all-around nice.

PALATE
Honey, pears, dried apples, candied nuts, Honey Nut Cheerios, strawberry taffy and waxy vanilla.

Like the aroma this is elegant, it’s something I could sip anytime and be happy.

FINISH
Medium -> Fruit, taffy, malty sweetness fades to Honey Nut Cheerios.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium body and a warm soft feel.

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt – Overall Thoughts and Score

It was a foregone conclusion I would buy a bottle of this when it arrived in CA because I’m a massive Bushmills fan (still waiting), but I’m very glad I got to try it before it arrived. Because now I’m going to buy two bottles instead of one!

Fruity, malty, sweet and a touch earthy and elegant, this is the perfect afternoon sipper. Which, not coincidentally, is how I finished off this sample bottle: sipping it on my porch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt is delicious, just wish it offered a bit more in the texture department.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)

*Disclosure: The sample for this Irish Single Malt Whisky review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Bushmills 12 Years Single Malt Label

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Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years Review

The port wood was replaced by the Quinta Ruban and this Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years was replaced by the Lasanta. Back in ye-olden days, the Glenmo core line had four distinct finishes, but only the port and sherry survived. The other two “oldies” were the Burgundy and the Madeira finish. Burgundy wine casks show […]

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The port wood was replaced by the Quinta Ruban and this Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years was replaced by the Lasanta. Back in ye-olden days, the Glenmo core line had four distinct finishes, but only the port and sherry survived.

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years Review

The other two “oldies” were the Burgundy and the Madeira finish. Burgundy wine casks show up in some of their other releases as do Madeira, so in some way their legacies do live on, but not as core releases like they used to be.

But who knows, maybe we’ll see something special show up soon. Next year is the distillery’s 180th anniversary and we might see some increasingly interesting and special releases as we creep closer to the big 200. Only time will tell on what’s to come, but at least we can get to know this one right now.

Let’s get to drinkin’.

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $43)

Related Whiskey

XXX

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Sherrye Wood Finish Malt Whisky has been initially matured in American oak casks then racked into selected Sherry ‘butts’ for extra aging in the final period of its maturation. The results of this ‘finishing’ are truly exceptional.” – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruby amber

NOSE
Sherry sweetness, earthy malt, leather, dried dark fruit, Pixie Stix, oak, OBE, copper, cinnamon and touches of cocoa.

Musty/earthy/oaky and fruity/sherry sweet combo that works so perfectly together.

PALATE
Sherry sweetness, earthy malt, roasted nuts, leather, dried dark fruit, honied graham, Smarties, oak, OBE, copper, cinnamon and touches of cocoa.

Comes through a bit tannic and drying here but, oddly, it helps balance the sweetness out.

FINISH
Med-long -> Sherry sweetness, malty graham, brown sugar, oak and copper fade out to a musty earthiness.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Great, med-full, warm and lightly dry.

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

This embodies that old school, sherry-finished, Scotch. It’s not just a pummeling of sweet notes, there’s balance and beauty in the combo of old earthy notes and sticky sweetness. I know “dank” has another meaning, but going back a few years in our cultural lexicon and this is would be a dank whisky.

I keep waiting for the Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years to get cloying or overpowering, because it has that potential, but it never does. Even adding a bit of water expands both the earthier and sweeter notes equally. This is a well crafted whisky.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years Label

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Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Review

The Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years was the precursor to the Quinta Ruban which made its debut in 2007 as an NAS whisky. In 2010 QR picked up the 12 year age statement and 9 years later (2019) it was switched to the 14-year-old we have in the market and on shelves now. I’ve definitely […]

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The Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years was the precursor to the Quinta Ruban which made its debut in 2007 as an NAS whisky. In 2010 QR picked up the 12 year age statement and 9 years later (2019) it was switched to the 14-year-old we have in the market and on shelves now.

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Review

I’ve definitely tasted the NAS Quinta in the past, but I don’t have any of it to taste with this and the Quinta 12 or the Quinta 14 already covered. I’d love to have been able to set up a lineage vertical starting here and ending in the present, but unfortunately, no one I know had the NAS anymore so I was only able to do the three mentions.

Not being able to track down a NAS seems like a good sign, if it was loathed there should be a lot of it available, but with none available, I’m guessing others liked it as much as I remember liking it too. Seems like the Glenmorangie Port Wood has enjoyed a long run of being a quality whisky, no matter what label and form it took.

Let’s put the cap on our QR look-back and get to drinkin’!

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $46)

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie 10 Years (Old)
Glenmorangie Traditional 100 Proof
Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Years
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie 12 Years Port Wood bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Port Wood Finish Malt Whisky has been initially matured in American oak casks then racked into selected Port ‘pipes’ for extra aging in the final period of its maturation. The results of this ‘finishing’ are truly exceptional.” – Glenmorangie

 

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Drying blood

NOSE
Coppery complex dark fruit, melon rind, malt, cocoa, vanilla, citrus, dried orchard fruit, touches of oak, cocoa and cinnamon. LOVELY

The jump from this to the Quinta Ruban 12 is not far. More like a skip.

PALATE
Complex dark fruit, malt, leather, cinnamon, vanilla frosting, touches of sulfur, copper and cocoa.

Warm and velvety, this is a lovely dram to sip on.

FINISH
Long -> Raisiny dark fruit, nuts, vanilla taffy, and a touch of oak slowly dissipate with a touch of sulfur.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good balance, medium-full, velvety oily

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

Ok, I get why they kept this and morphed it into the Quinta Ruban. This stands head-and-shoulders above the Burgundy and the Madeira. It shows some depth and nuance and carries a warm maturity. I would buy this dusty Glenmo if I saw it on the shelf, so long as the price wasn’t insane.

It’s not as rich, deep or complex as the QR 14, but it denotes a great genesis, it has most of the frame and darkly fruity meat of what will become my favorite of the core Glenmo. Heck, one of my favorite Glenmos period. For Glenmo fans, the Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years is worth at least a taste if you can seek it out.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86) Thanks Travis for the sample

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Label

Glenmorangie Port Wood 12 Years Review $NA
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Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Review

When I saw this Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish 12 Years on the list for one of our SCWC Glenmo tastings I was excited. Very excited. When it’s done right, a Madeira finish is one of my favorite finishes in whiskydom. A quick look at the bottle and label style tells you this is a pre-LVMH […]

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When I saw this Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish 12 Years on the list for one of our SCWC Glenmo tastings I was excited. Very excited. When it’s done right, a Madeira finish is one of my favorite finishes in whiskydom.

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Review

A quick look at the bottle and label style tells you this is a pre-LVMH aquisition bottling. A quick look at Glenmo’s current website will also confirm that it wasn’t kept in the core because it’s not listed anywhere. Why did they cut the Madeira?

I don’t know why they cut this and the Cote D’OR Burgundy from the core. They changed the Port Wood Finish to the Quinta Ruban, the sherry finish was changed to Lasanta and the Nectar D’Or was introduced, but the Madeira Wood Finish and Burgundy were simply cut.

Madeira barrels do still show up in releases like the Bacalta, but it would be nice if they, or anyone, had a good, solid, tasty, affordable, standard Madeira release. Is that too much to ask? Probably, anyways, no use crying over dry empty Madeira barrels (that’s a saying right?). Let’s get to drinkin’ and dive into this dusty Glenmorangie.

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally ~$46)

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie 10 Years (Old)
Glenmorangie Traditional 100 Proof
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or 12 Years
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years
Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Madeira Wood Finish Malt Whisky has been initially matured in American oak casks then racked into selected Madeira ‘drums’ for extra aging in the final period of its maturation. The results of this ‘finishing’ are truly exceptional.” – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Apricot honey

NOSE
Sticky winey sweetness, dried orchard fruit, dried apricots, sultanas and some caramel with touches of oak and spice.

The Madeira lands heavy and brings an intense sugary sweetness to it that isn’t quite balanced.

PALATE
Heavy golden raisin sweetness, wine sweetness, dried orchard fruit, malt, oak and some caramel.

There’s something a bit off about it, like the pieces are a millimeter off and it’s not quite coming together.

FINISH
Medium-short -> Winey sweetness, oak, copper and some stale dried fruit fade out.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium-light body and a soft light feel.

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

Ok, I can see why LVMH didn’t keep this exact version when they took over. Though, unless it’s a cask quality issue, I don’t know why they don’t bring it back. The Bacalta was great so we know the Glenmo spirit does work well with Madeira and that Dr. Bill and co know how to work with the barrels to produce something tasty.

Only thing I can think of is that maybe it wasn’t worth the effort to try and revitalize this or the Burgundy? Maybe the Sherry Wood Finish and the Port Wood Finish were so far ahead, and their cask sources were perfectly on point, it just wasn’t worth the time and effort to bring the Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years up to their level? Again, only Dr. Bill and the accountant know.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86) – Thanks to Travis for the sample

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Label

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood 12 Years Review $NA
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3.5
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Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years Review

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years is one of the OG Glenmo core offerings that didn’t make it when LVMH took over. Though its soul lives on in all of the many, and varied, red-wine finished single malts in their portfolio. I guess, in a way, you could say it was reassigned. Though, I’m honestly surprised […]

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Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years is one of the OG Glenmo core offerings that didn’t make it when LVMH took over. Though its soul lives on in all of the many, and varied, red-wine finished single malts in their portfolio. I guess, in a way, you could say it was reassigned.

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years Review

Though, I’m honestly surprised it didn’t make it. I know Dr. Bill is a big fan of wine, especially French wine, and he works closely with amazing wine producers. I get that Quinta Ruban was needed to really stand out and was a favorite in the market. And as a Scotch maker, you pretty much HAVE to have an ex-sherry release, but I don’t understand why this wasn’t kept as a truly unique offering.

Honestly, I’d rather have a 12 yo version of this as a core release than the Nectar D’ Or. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy NDO, it’s great, but when it comes to core offerings of Single Malt Scotch, pure red wine cask finishes are missing, but we know they can be awesome.

But maybe this one sounds better than it tastes and it was pulled. With releases like this, the quality and quantity of casks always play into what can be a core offering. Only one way to find out.

Let’s get to drinkin’.

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $46)

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie The Original 10 years
X by Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or 12 Years
Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Years
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years sample bottle.
“Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish Malt Whisky was initially aged in American oak casks then racked into Burgundy casks from the Cote D’Or for extra aging in the final period of its maturation. The results are truly exceptional.” – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruddy honey

NOSE
Winey sweet, cereal grain and malty sweet, vanilla taffy with some toasted pastry and raisiny dried dark fruit with a hint of copper.

Not the most complex Glenmo, or wine-fininshed whisky, I’ve had. It’s ok, just super light.

PALATE
Winey sweet, malty sweet, oak, vanilla taffy, toasted pastries and a light nuttiness with some raisny dried dark fruit and copper hint.

Again, not super deep or complex, just super light. It gets a tad earthy as it opens, but never passes being “just ok”.

FINISH
Medium-short -> Raisniny dried dark fruit, malt, cinnamon and oak with a toasted note.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balanced, medium-light body and a soft lightly dry feel.

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

During the intro I mused about wondering why LVMH didn’t keep this one when they took over and I think we found out why: it’s just ok. I know Dr. Bill can do wonders with ex-Wine casks, so I know he could have revamped it, but maybe it would have taken too long? Maybe the quantity of wine casks was too much effort? Maybe they wanted to only use wine in special releases? Who knows?

Well, Dr. Bill, the accountants and the marketing team know, but you get what I mean. They had their reasons and based on the one we drank, those reasons were valid. However, if you see a Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years in the wild it’s definitely worth picking up if it’s at a not-insane price. It’s a nice piece of recent Glenmo history.

SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82)

Thanks to Travis for the sample.

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood 12 Years Label

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3
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Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12 Years Review

I first tried the Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years at a blind tasting. Post-reveal, I immediately opened up the K&L site and ordered a bottle. This limited edition was one of my favorites from that night and stood out amongst all of the other ex-Bourbon and finished Glenmos on the table. It was the […]

The post Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12 Years Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

I first tried the Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years at a blind tasting. Post-reveal, I immediately opened up the K&L site and ordered a bottle. This limited edition was one of my favorites from that night and stood out amongst all of the other ex-Bourbon and finished Glenmos on the table. It was the one I came back to at the end of the night.

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12 Years Review

Like all of the extra-aged Core releases and many of the Private Editions, this whisky started as The Original 10 and then received a 2-year finishing in ex-Malaga Dulce casks. The experiment itself obviously turned out well, but this release exemplifies one of the things I truly love about Glenmorangie: commitment.

In a world where “finishing” tends to run 3-6 months, and one year is seen as luxurious, Glenmorangie commits the time and patience of regularly finishing for two to four years. This gives the original spirit enough time to soak deep into the wood and extract a thick layer of flavor.

This dedication is commendable and I’m excited to dig deeper into what the Malaga casks have done to the Glenmorangie spirit. So let’s get to drinkin’ and see what this whisky is all about.

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Malaga
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 47.3%

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years Price: $80

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie The Original 10 years
X by Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or 12 Years
Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Years
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“A limited-edition 12-year-old single malt, matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in casks that previously held one of the rarest fortified wines in the world – Malaga Dulce” – Glenmorangie

 

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Fruity-taffy sweet, heavy malt, honied dried fruits, sultanas, raisny-pruny and a light touch of metallic medicinal notes and dry oakiness.

Starts with a candy-style sweetness, but as it opens it morphs into more of a darkly fruity/raisiny-pruny style of sweetness. Lovely.

PALATE
Raisny-pruny, dried orchard fruit, copper, toasted graham, dark honey, blackberry taffy, vanilla frosting and a bit of oak and nuts.

Palate switches things around from the aroma and starts fruity sweet and slowly turns to more candy sweet.

FINISH
Medium -> Candy sweet, fruity sweet, malty sweet on a slow drawl to a soft oakiness.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good, medium-full, soft easy.

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

Wow, this is nice. There’s a fullness to the whisky as it fills the senses and moves from aroma to palate to finish. Candy and fruity sweet profiles jocky for dominance with a subtle, dry, oakiness that weaves through giving it balance and structure.  This is a perfect sipping whisky. So much so that the bottle is currently empty, the photos were taken back in October.

It does start a little tight, but give it a bit of air, or even a couple drops of water if you’re feeling like it, and it opens up to be a soft velvety whisky that flows warmly through the senses. Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish 12 Years is a tasty whisky and one to keep an eye out for if you’re looking for something tasty and different to have on the shelf.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12 Years Label

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask 12 Years Review $80
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3.6
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Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Review

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years was launched in 2010 and changed to the Quinta Ruban 14 in 2019, but they kept the price the same. The reason for both the change in age and no change in price is that the QR12 has, pretty much, been a 14 yo the whole time. There might have […]

The post Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years was launched in 2010 and changed to the Quinta Ruban 14 in 2019, but they kept the price the same. The reason for both the change in age and no change in price is that the QR12 has, pretty much, been a 14 yo the whole time.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Review

There might have been some under 14-year whisky in the 12, but from what I’ve read in interviews, the Quinta Ruban has consisted mostly of “much older than 12 years” whisky for quite a while so Glenmorangie decided to make it official.

This means, in theory, we shouldn’t see a whole of difference between this and the current Quinta Ruban 14. I think we should put that theory to the test by reviewing the two side-by-sde.

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46%

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $45)

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie The Original 10 years
Glenmorangie Lasanta
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“Dr Bill, our Director of Whisky Creation, was born with a taste for adventure. And with this single malt he sought to create a whisky as unpredictable as his travels.” – Glenmorangie

 

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruby caramel

NOSE
Dried dark fruit, caramel, copper, vanilla taffy, Honey Nut Cheerios, cocoa and a touch of chalk, baked goods, and floral notes.

It’s a warm, darkly sweet and rich velvety aroma.

PALATE
Sticky dried dark fruit, caramel, oak, roasted malt, cocoa, copper, dried orchard fruit, nuts and a bit of citrus peels and baking spice.

Soft and fresh with a dark fruity and candy sweetness sweeping through and from time-to-time the flavors will combine and I think of Whoppers/Malteesers.

FINISH
Med-long -> Dried dark fruit, citrus peels, copper, baking spice fade out to oak.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, medium-full body and a lightly oily feel.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score

I truly do enjoy this whisky. Every time we have a Glenmo tasting with the SCWC or I attend an LVMH press event I find myself gravitating towards the Quinta. It doesn’t matter what limited editions are out, what’s new, what’s old, etc. I just keep coming back to this little ruby gem.

Are there Glenmos I enjoy more than the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years? Sure. But they tend to be in the not-quite-affordable range and so I’ll spoil my palate with them when I can, and so does everyone else at the events, but as soon as they run dry I can be found happily sipping the Quinta. And that ain’t a bad place to be.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Label

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 Years Review $45
Overall
4.1
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