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Review / Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie have launched the fourth bottling in their annual Tales series – the Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo. This has seen Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, using rare Japanese mizun…

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie have launched the fourth bottling in their annual Tales series - the Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo. This has seen Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, using rare Japanese mizunara oak for the famous single malt brand for the first time. The whisky from these casks has been married with traditional American oak ex-bourbon cask and ex-sherry cask stock to create the perfect balance.

The packaging for a Tale of Tokyo features a collaboration with Japanese artist Yamaguchi Akira and shows a Tokyo street scene. Look out as there are five Dr. Bills hidden within the illustration. The Tales series has proved popular since launching in 2020 with A Tale of Cake and followed in subsequent years by A Tale of Winter and A Tale of the Forest. Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo is bottled at 46% ABV and will retail worldwide for £76 per bottle.

Glenmorangie is one of the best-selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and consistently sits in fourth place behind Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan. It was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named Morangie and became Glenmorangie in 1887.

Glenmorangie has an annual production capacity of six million litres. The stills are the tallest in Scotland standing at over five metres (16.5 feet) - this is the same height as an adult male giraffe. It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production, which comes from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

Our Tasting Notes

The colour is coppery gold and the nose is rich and savoury with initial aromas of dark chocolate, incense and sandalwood. Underneath are further aromas of caramel, toffee, vanilla custard and malted biscuits with hints of cocoa powder, cinnamon and orange.

On the palate this whisky feels rich, bold and heavy. The intense notes from the nose strike first again, especially the chocolate and sandalwood. There is also something herbal and menthol-like that evolves early on. Then comes the caramel and toffee sweetness and this creates superb balance. Some citrus fruit notes also come through well - think of orange oil and candied peel especially. More subtle notes take their time to develop but add incredible depth and complexity - think of cocoa powder, gingerbread, bitter cherry and a hint of aniseed.

The finish is long and remains bold. The sweeter elements slowly fade and this allows plenty of oak and warming woody spices to shine. There is a slightly resinous feel and this accentuates notes of rancio, cedarwood and sandalwood. Pinches of cocoa and white pepper make the woodiness pop and also aids the length of finish.

What's The Verdict?

This is a fine whisky from Glenmorangie and one that shows off the superb savoury characteristics of Japanese mizunara oak. The balance between these and the sweeter elements is very good, and the result is a deliciously warming and bold whisky. The Glenmorangie Tales series is quickly becoming a legendary collection of single malts and one that pushes the famous brand in different directions. The Tale of Tokyo explores Japanese oak for the first time and leaves us wondering what will be next.

Review / Glenmorangie Amontillado Cask Finish 12 years old

This new whisky is the fourth bottling in the Barrel Select Release series from the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie. The Glenmorangie Amontillado Cask Finish 12 years old is exclusive to Australia and the UK and has been crafted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie. Initial maturation was in ex-bourbon barrels for eight years before being transferred to ex-Amontillado sherry casks sourced by Lumsden for a further four years. It has been bottled at 46% ABV and is non chill-filtered. The Glenmorangie Amontillado Cask Finish 12 years old is exclusive to The Whisky Club Australia and the visitor centre shop in Tain. It can also be purchased via glenmorangie.com. A bottle will cost £75/ $AU135.

Glenmorangie is one of the biggest selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named Morangie and became Glenmorangie in 1887. It has an annual production capacity of six million litres. The stills are the tallest in Scotland standing at over five metres (16.5 feet). It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production, which comes from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

"I have always been a fan of and loved the nuttier, spicier tastes of Amontillado – my favourite style of sherry. It is such a delight to bring its cask influences to our whisky’s signature delicate style for this special release."
Dr. Bill Lumsden.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep gold and the nose is highly fragrant and expressive. Sweet aromas of golden syrup, sultana and ripe peach kick things off and are quickly joined a distinct nutty quality - think of hazelnut and walnut in particular - plus something floral. There is also a ginger-like spicy aroma lingering in the background.

On the palate this whisky has a lovely silky and sweet quality. Delicate honeyed notes join with those of vanilla custard to begin with. Then come some heavier notes - imagine the golden syrup from the nose, plus some hazelnut praline and a hint of orange oil. There is plenty of fruit too, especially canned tropical fruit and peaches, plus dried fruits such as juicy sultana and candied orange. The mix is delicious.

The early praline note then develops and takes the whisky in a drier and more nutty direction. Toasted hazelnuts and walnuts lead the way and are joined by hints of almond oil and cocoa bean. There is a growing spiciness also - think of gingerbread first and foremost, followed by clove and cinnamon. Some late savoury notes add further depth and complexity in the form of chamoix leather and old cigar box.

The finish is long and enjoyable. It gets drier, oakier and spicier with time and ends with a delicious mouthwatering quality. The combination between these notes and the sweeter fruitier ones is fabulous. The honey, expressive fruit and vanilla fades to leave the warming gingerbread and some toasted oak to linger.

What's the verdict?

This is a lovely whisky from Glenmorangie. Ex-Amontillado sherry casks are not commonly used to mature Scotch whisky, but this is a bottling that makes you wonder why. The sympathetic casking has married with and complimented Glenmorangie's light and fruity spirit superbly.

The nuttiness and spiciness elevates the whisky to a new level and makes this an early contender to be in our Top 10 whiskies of the year. If you are in Australia or the UK, then you should grab it while you can. We will be.

Review / Ardbeg Hypernova

This new whisky is the latest limited edition exclusive from Islay distillery of Ardbeg. The Ardbeg Hypernova is pitched as the smokiest Ardbeg single malt ever and is only available to Ardbeg Committee members. The new whisky is an evolution of previous cult classic Supernova and shows peat levels in excess of 170ppm (phenol parts per million). This is over three times above the regular level of Ardbeg spirit. The Ardbeg Hypernova is bottled at 51% ABV and will be available in limited numbers from the Ardbeg Committee part of the Ardbeg website and Ardbeg Embassies around the world. Membership to the Committee is free and open to all Ardbeg fans or peaty whisky drinkers. A bottle will cost £190.

The Ardbeg distillery is located on the southern coast of the famous whisky island of Islay and was founded in 1815 by John MacDougall, although records have distilling on the site as far back as 1794. The recent history shows numerous changes of ownership from the 1950s right through the fallow period of the 1980s and 90s, until The Glenmorangie Company (now Moet Hennessy) took over in 1997. This signalled the rebirth of Ardbeg. The distillery has an annual production of just 2.4 million litres per year and boasts an award-winning visitor centre.

Our tasting notes

The colour is pale gold and the nose is pungent and bold. Heavy and acrid peat smoke aromas dominate and these have a damp earthy and coastal vegetal quality - imagine damp moss, wet peat and drying seaweed. Underneath are further aromas of vanilla, malty biscuits, heather honey and a hint of clove oil.

On the palate this whisky is immediately big, bold and super peaty. The peppery smoke takes hold and grips the tastebuds. It has an acrid and medicinal edge with plenty of cold bonfire ash, coal tar soap and bitumen. Extra depth is added to the smoke with elements of wet earth, damp seaweed, moss and dying charcoal embers. Underneath sit further notes of scorched green apple and burnt oat cookies.

Some much needed relief from the smoke is given by some sweeter notes, most notably golden syrup and white chocolate. There is also a slightly flinty and chalky mouthfeel now, along with a hint of salinity. Further complexity is added with late hints of vanilla, clove, oak and cocoa. The addition of water dampens the smoke, but only a little. This allows the sweeter notes to shine through better.

The finish is long. This is not surprising given the level and power of the peat smoke. The whisky becomes more drying and bitter with time, especially once the sweeter characteristics have faded. A hefty pinch of warming spice rounds things off.

What's the verdict?

This new Ardbeg is not for the faint hearted and is a big and bold whisky. This is only to be expected from the pre-release hype and for something pitched as the distillery's peatiest and smokiest release ever. It is certainly the most intense Ardbeg that we can remember sampling. But is it any good? In a word - yes.

Hypernova shows Ardbeg in a slightly different light and we hope that the brand will release something like this to a wider audience in the future. It shows that you can have super powerful peat smoke but in an interesting and balanced way, and is a definite step up from the regular bottlings. Definitely one to try if 1) you love Ardbeg, 2) you love peaty whiskies and 3) if you can get hold of a bottle.

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (November 4, 2022)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week.

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Benriach

The Speyside distillery of Benriach has announced the reintroduction of the 16 years old expression into its core single malt range. The Sixteen features a renewed recipe created by Dr,. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Benriach. Three cask types have been used - ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak. The new release fills the gap in the range between The Twelve and The Twenty One. Benriach The Sixteen is bottled at 43% ABV and is available from specialist whisky retailers in selected world markets. A bottle will cost £72/ $85 US.

Glendronach

The east Highland distillery of Glendronach has released the latest bottling in its popular cask strength series - the Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 11. The new whisky is a celebration of natural strength whisky and of Glendronach's heavily sherried style. It has been created by Dr. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Glendronach, using a combination of spirit matured in Spanish oak ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Batch 11 has been bottled at 59.8% ABV and is limited in number. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in specialist whisky retailers globally. A bottle will cost £68/ $78 US.

Glenmorangie

The north Highland single malt brand of Glenmorangie has extended the It's Kind of Delicious and Wonderful global advertising campaign with six new images. These have again been created in collaboration with renowned photographer Miles Aldridge and communications agency DDB Paris. The aim is to promote diversity within whisky drinking and inspire people to drink it in different situations. The focus products are the Glenmorangie core range of Original 10 years old, La Santa 12 years old and Quinta Ruban 14 years old.

The six new images were created on a large scale by Aldridge and then photographed. His aim was to heighten the vivid colours and bring the whisky-drinking scenarios to life. The six images include a woman collecting her cocktail garnish from a greenhouse, crashed hot air balloonists enjoying a sunset (pictured, above), a man celebrating a new haircut at the barbers, a young couple enjoying a cocktail while playing pinball, a trip to the fortune teller and a man enjoying a Glenmorangie over ice in his home cinema.

To celebrate the campaign launch Glenmorangie will have an interactive consumer pop-up installation in London's Spitalfields Market. The 'Wonder Hotline' is a Glenmorangie branded phone box which people will step inside and answer a number of questions. Answers will direct them to a number of local bars where they will get a free Glenmorangie cocktail. This will run from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November.

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Review / Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest

This new whisky is the third release in the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie’s annual Tales series. A Tale of the Forest follows A Tale of Cake from 2020 and A Tale of Winter from 2021. This year’s edition takes inspiration from Dr. Bill Lumde…

This new whisky is the third release in the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie's annual Tales series. A Tale of the Forest follows A Tale of Cake from 2020 and A Tale of Winter from 2021. This year's edition takes inspiration from Dr. Bill Lumden's walks through the woodland close to his home. Glenmorangie's Director of Whisky Creation has evoke the sights, sounds and smell of the forest by using a small batch of barley kilned with woodland botanicals. This traditional practice from yesteryear sees barley dried with small quantities of peat, juniper, pine, heather, rowan berries and birch bark. The whisky has been matured in a combination of first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon casks. The packaging has been designed by illustrator Pomme Chan.

Glenmorangie is one of the biggest selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named Morangie. It became Glenmorangie in 1887. It has an annual production capacity of six million litres. The stills are the tallest in Scotland standing at over five metres (16.5 feet). It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production, which comes from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

"About 15 years ago I began experimenting with elements of primary spirit production. This included kilning and the study of historically how barley used to be dried. Other combustables, not just peat, were often used. Then around 12 years ago we produced one weeks worth of spirit in this style - that is now A Tale of the Forest."
Dr. Bill Lumsden speaking at the launch event in London / October 12, 2022.

A Tale of the Forest is bottled at 46% ABV and is initially available for an exclusive period from London department store Selfridge's. Wider distribution throughout the UK, Europe and world markets will then follow. A bottle will cost £89. The launch is supported by A Tale of the Forest takeover of The Green Bar in London's Cafe Royal until December. Special cocktails have been created by forager and mixologist Emil Åreng for this.

Our tasting notes

The colour is bright gold and the nose is sweet with a gentle and subtle smokiness. Aromas of vanilla and heather honey compliment the soft peat smoke and this is joined by aromatic wood smoke and something green and resinous. Hints of bitter orange, leather and aniseed sit in the background. Overall, this is very enticing but quite different from most Glenmorangie's that we have sampled.

On the palate this whisky is soft, smoky and rich. The heather honey note from the nose hits first along with some malty biscuit, vanilla and a hint of milk chocolate. The peat and botanical smoke is never far away though and wraps around everything. This is sweet and gentle in character with a distinct earthiness. The savoury nature is enhanced by hints of resinous pine oils and zingy juniper, which gives a multi-layered feel to the smoke. Something barky, presumably from the birch, also comes through and sits alongside an increasing spicy and peppery characteristic.

There are plenty of subtle secondary notes too - think of aromatic burnt lemon and orange zest, menthol, eucalyptus and delicate wood spices. A hint of aniseed, damp earth, moss and old leather round things off superbly.

The finish is long and warming with the smokiness fading last. This smoke takes on a vegetal, resinous and slightly more bitter edge as the sweeter honeyed notes slowly drift away. This gives a mouthwatering and drying edge with a prickly and peppery heat.

What's the verdict?

The Tales series may only be three whiskies old, but it is quickly gaining a reputation for being one to look out for around this time each year. It is bold for a big brand like Glenmorangie to release such experimental whiskies and A Tale of the Forest takes that theory one stage further.

To revisit the old tradition of burning other things with peat is interesting and not something we can recall another Scotch brand doing. We have seen it with a couple of new world distilleries, Mackmyra and Stauning from Sweden and Denmark respectively, but not from Scotland.

A Tale of the Forest is delicious yet unlike any Glenmorangie that we can remember sampling in the past. Dr. Bill and his experimental approach are to be applauded. We cannot wait to see what the next bottling in the series brings. Sadly, we will have to wait a year to find out.

Review / Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old

This new bottling is the youngest expression from the Vermont-based brand of Whistlepig. As with the rest of the range Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old is made from 100% rye. It joins the 10, 12 and 15 year old expressions. The new whisky has been conceived following consultation with bartenders and is designed for use in mixing and cocktails. It was created by Dave Pickerell, the late Master Distiller at Whistlepig who sadly died just before its launch. Piggyback is bottled at six years of age and has been aged in American oak barrels. It was launched in America last month and saw its UK launch on Independence Day (July 4). Whistlepig Piggyback 6 years old is bottled at 48.28% ABV (96.56 Proof) and will retail for £45 per bottle.

Whistlepig was founded in 2008 with the goal of bringing rye whiskies back into the premium North American Whisky sector. A new distillery at Whistlepig Farm in the American state of Vermont began production in 2015. The ultimate goal is to bottle their own spirit for their range of whiskies. To date, spirit has been sourced from an unnamed distillery in Alberta, Canada. These have then been brought over the border to mature at Whistlepig Farm. Since launching, Whistlepig has gone on to become the most decorated rye whisky brand in global whisky awards.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep golden yellow and the nose is highly fragrant with bold and spicy aromas. There is plenty of vanilla, fresh coconut and maraschino cherry to begin with and these aromas are backed up by pepper-like and earthy spices and a whiff of delicate florals. It smells very promising.

On the palate this whisky continues with its bold nature. Peppery and earthy spices lead the way and are supported by a good amount of fresh oak and dessicated coconut. Then comes some delicious sweetness with golden syrup (or is it maple syrup?), vanilla ice cream and a hint of cola bottle sweets coming through. The maraschino/cocktail cherry note from the nose also develops and adds further depth and complexity. The spiciness and oakiness build and evolve with a lovely late hint of fresh bittersweet rye bread appearing towards the finish. This gives a pleasant grip, dryness and warmth.

The finish is of decent length. The youthful peppery nature drives the whisky on, especially once the sweeter characteristics begin to fade. A lovely earthy rye note also helps with this and provides wamrth and structure. It makes you want another sip.

What's the verdict?

This new offering from Whistlepig is delicious. At the London launch event they went to greta lengths to tell us that this whisky was designed for mixing and cocktails. Indeed, the cocktails we tried on the night worked very well for which they should be complimented. But we also think they may be doing this whisky a disservice - it is superb on its own or over a large cube of ice.

There are not many rye brands, or American whisky brands in general, that carry an age statement across their range and that is also something that Whistlepig should be complimented on. They spoke about the potential to devalue their brand by putting out a 6 year old expression, but they have strengthened it in our view. It is a bold move but one that will make Whistlepig more accessible and able to be tasted by more people.

Review / Glenmorangie The Accord, The Elementa & The Tribute

These three whiskies form the core range of travel retail exclusive single malts from the north Highalnd distillery of Glenmorangie. They were launched in Autumn 2021 as the world began travelling again following 18 months of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. They are available now in airports globally and have been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden - the Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie.

The Accord is bottled at 12 years old and 43% ABV, and is a classic marriage of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry barrels. It costs £59/ $79 US. The Elementa has been predominantly matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in charred virgin oak casks. It is also bottled at 43% ABV and costs £68/ $92 US. The Tribute is the oldest at 16 years old and has been created from a 'heritage spirit batch' matured in ex-bourbon casks. The spirit is lightly peated. It is bottled at 46% ABv and costs £85/ $115 US.

Glenmorangie is one of the biggest selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named as Morangie and changed to Glenmorangie in 1887. It has an annual production capacity of six million litres and the stills are the tallest in Scotland. They stand at over five metres (16.5 feet) tall. It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production - this bubbles up from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

Our tasting notes

Glenmorangie The Accord 12 years old

The colour is deep golden yellow with a hint of amber and the nose is rich and fruity. Aromas of toffee, caramel and dried fruits (especially raisin and candied orange) rise first. They are followed by further aromas of dried apple, cereal bars, heather honey and a hint of almond.

On the palate this whisky follows a similar path to the nose. It is rich and fruity. Juicy dried fruits (think of raisin and sultana), crumbly brown sugar and caramel notes lead the way. These are joined by candied orange peel and hints of marzipan and milk chocolate. There is also a background green vegetal note that is difficult to pinpoint. A distinct woodiness comes through early on and evolves well. This gives grip and a drying oaky quality, which is accentuated with a pinch of baking spice. The finish continues on this theme and this aids the length.

Glenmorangie The Elementa 14 years old

The colour is pale gold and the nose is delicate, sweet and woody. Aromas of dessicated coconut, vanilla and honey mingle with those of white chocolate, icing sugar and candied lemons. Hints of jasmine, orange blossom oil and fresh sawdust sit in the background.

On the palate this whisky is equally as delicate, sweet and woody. It has an immediate freshness and uplifting vibrancy. Notes of vanilla, coconut and freshly sawn oak lead the way and offer a delicious introduction. Further notes of green apple, white chocolate and a good pinch of baking spice follow. Underneath are hints of candied lemon, marshmallow and that orange blossom oil from the nose. The finish is slightly short and becomes quite dry and oaky. It also becomes a little hot and peppery, especially at the end.

Glenmorangie The Tribute 16 years old

The colour is pale lemon yellow and the nose is full of sweet cereals, vanilla and a whiff of earthy smoke. Further aromas begin to develop - think of lime marmalade with a hint of tropical fruits, especially pineapple and peach.

On the palate this whisky is initially sweet and sugary but the earthy peat smoke undertones quickly develop. The smokiness has a softness and sweetness to it as it gently licks around the other elements. It sits in the background and becomes increasingly savoury with time. Notes of vanilla, white chocolate and cookie dough are prominent and joined by hints of walnut, lime zest and dried pineapple. The finish is of decent length and sees the sweetness fade slowly. The background smoke then comes to the fore and gives a pleasant warmth and dryness.

What's the verdict?

This travel retail range is interesting as it pushes Glenmorangie in three different and very distinct directions. The Elementa is classic Glenmorangie - bourbon cask (although with the twist of virgin oak on this occasion) and packed with vanilla and oak notes. The Accord is much richer and shows the distinct influence of good sherry casks, and is reminiscent of the Lasanta expression from the core range. The Tribute offers the rare chance to taste a smoky Glenmorangie.

Which is our favourite? That is a difficult call as one of us chose The Accord and the other The Elementa. We would definitely recommend checking these whiskies out next time you are passing through an airport.

Review / Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter

This whisky is a new seasonal limited edition single malt from the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie. The Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter is inspired by the cosy quality of a thick winter jumper and was created by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie. It follows last year's A Tale of Cake in the series. The whisky was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before finishing for a period of time in ex-Marsala wine casks sourced by Lumsden from Sicily. The Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter is bottled at 13 years of age and 46% ABV. It is also non chill-filtered and will be available globally via selected specialist whisky retailers. A bottle will cost £75/ $105 US.

Glenmorangie is one of the biggest selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain and was originally named as Morangie, changing to its current name in 1887. Glenmorangie has an annual production capacity of six million litres and the 12 copper pot stills are the tallest in Scotland. They stand at over five metres (16.5 feet) tall. It also uses the hardest water of any Scottish whisky distillery in production, which bubbles up from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep gold and the nose is rich, sweet and fragrant. Aromas of green apple, brown sugar and sultanas rise from the glass initially. These are followed by further aromas of golden syrup, vanilla custard and a hint of cocoa powder. With time background aromas of peach, gingerbread and malty cookies, plus a pinch of cinnamon.

On the palate this whisky follows a similar pathway to the nose. First up are expressive notes of crisp green apple and juicy sultana, with a suggestion of stewed pear with cloves in the background. These initial notes are supported further notes of fresh honeycomb, golden syrup and a hint of milk chocolate. Further hints of dried tropical fruits and lime zest also develop.

As the sweet and fruity notes begin to subside, it is the warmer and more savoury characteristics that begin to come to the fore. Robust cereals evolve to give wonderful structure and are backed up by notes of warm gingerbread, cinnamon, cloves and mace. The combination give a somewhat earthy feel. Even later there is a woody oak element that comes through nicely.

The finish is of decent length and becomes warmer and spicier with time. The honeyed dried fruits and sugary sweetness fade slowly to let the robust cereal and those mulling-type spices to take hold. Add in the robust cereals and late oakiness, and this whisky grips the tastebuds and holds on longer than expected.

What's the verdict?

This is another lovely offering from Glenmorangie and Dr. Bill, and we are liking the way that this A Tale Of series is going. Hopefully it will become a regular feature on the whisky release calendar. This is delicious and shows the depth and complexity that can be created with maturation in good Marsala barrels. Is it as good as A Tale of Cake? Probably not in our opinion. But that was one of our favourite whiskies for a long time, so would be difficult to beat anyway.