If I had a million dollars for every time Glenmorangie came out with a Special Private Edition whisky, I’d be five million dollars richer! Also, I’d use a good chunk of that cash to purchase more of these Private Edition Glenmos (though they tend to be fairly priced between $79-$99 whenever they’re released so I’d still have a good chunk of change left over for, well, more whisky!).
This bottle will run you about $99, maybe a little more depending on who you buy from.
So yes, this is the 5th release of the Glenmorangie Special Private Edition whiskies and **spoiler alert** this one is my favorite from the bunch.
A little unnamable birdie told me that this whisky is made up of:
60% of the vatting = 1999 distillate aged in ex-bourbon casks until 2008 then finished 5 years in Clos de Tart casks. Total age = 14yrs
40% of vatting = 1995 distillate aged in ex-bourbon casks until 2005 then finished in fortified Rasteau casks for 8 years. Total age = 18yrs
So, while this is an NAS (no age statement) bottling, it’s not immature whisky by any stretch of the imagination!
Furthermore, this is bottled at a respectable 46% ABV and non-chill-filtered. Kudos to Glenmorangie for sticking to these quality requirements.
Let’s give is a taste now…
On the nose — So far it smells like my Tuesday morning: massive presence of red wine gums and hazelnut coffee grounds. (Please don’t tell my wife I sneak some wine gums for breakfast or my tea-snob friends that I indulge in the occasional flavored coffee.)
Burgundy soaked peach halves are an obvious and welcome note but I did not expect the presence of Spanish olives, pimento and all (am I sensing manchego cheese too or just getting hungry?).
Deep and dark chocolate with some fresh cut roses. Was Dr. Bill Lumsden thinking of a Valentine’s Day whisky when he created this one? Hollow out those dark chocolates and fill them with raspberry jam.
Not sure if you’re getting it yet but, boy, this is a decedent dram! At least on the nose it is. Time to put it in my mouth. (Hey Hatton, keep it clean! Pfft.)
On the mouth — Mouth-filling-ly dense, rich and oily. Wow, this is a big whisky! The heart is pure Glenmorangie but it’s layered so elegantly with flavors of citrus and clove, sugar cooked pecans, a touch of dark caramel and a dash of toasted and spicy oak.
The scents and flavors are very well integrated.
Let’s sip again (no water needed here, folks!): That raspberry jam from the nose is still here and the oil on the tongue only helps. Add some cranberry to that raspberry mix and perhaps a little more spice.
Loads of stewed red fruits and warming potpourri.
Finish — My one complaint: the finish is a bit on the short side however the final flavor is that of red wine soaked blood oranges and, boy, that’s a nice way to end the experience. Well I suppose you can just take another sip, right? Right.
In sum – I know there were some people that went Ga-Ga over the last special release (Ealanta) but this is, in my honest opinion, a far superior whisky. This is a whisky that is very sure of what it is supposed to be.
The story stays true from beginning to end and the experience on the whole was a whole lot of enjoyment and fun. If you can get a bottle, get a bottle. You will not be disappointed. This is perfect as an evening or morning warmer-upper.
**Special thanks to DB for the sample and to Billy Lumsden for another fine creation. Well done, sir!
Lots of chewy red candies and, get this, Honey Comb cereal. The heat goes away after the first sip but some of that cinnamon from the nose remains.
