Barrels play an important role in making whiskey. Most whiskey has to be aged in an oak barrel to be considered whiskey. Corn whiskey is the exception to this rule. The history of barrels is the history of whiskey. The… Continue Reading →
Barrels play an important role in making whiskey. Most whiskey has to be aged in an oak barrel to be considered whiskey. Corn whiskey is the exception to this rule. The history of barrels is the history of whiskey. The... Continue Reading →
We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a Read More »
We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a tax increase on whiskies and other distilled spirits, while local officials in Kentucky are looking at moratoriums on new distillery construction following the phaseout of the state’s barrel tax.
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 […]
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 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
“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
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 […]
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 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
“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 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 […]
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 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
“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.
