In the world of Scotch, Glenmorangie is certainly a name that winds back through the mists of Scottish history, its roots nestled in the fertile lands of the northern Highlands. 

In the 18th century, the government saw a need to regulate and tax the production of spirits. This led to the introduction of acts in the 1780s that encouraged licensing of distilleries, essentially making unlicensed private distillation illegal. Bear in mind, this was happening after many, many years of home-based distilling in remote Scottish areas.

Naturally, the Scots didn't take too kindly to this, and illegal distilling continued.

It was in 1843, however, that William Matheson, a visionary farmer finally decided to make his own brand. From the Morangie Farm brewery, he reshaped the grounds into the distillery we know today, christening it Glenmorangie – a name that translates to "Valley of Tranquility" in Gaelic.

 

Glenmorangie's stills.

 

From its inception, Glenmorangie embraced innovation. They were one of the first distilleries to use tall, slender stills – a decision that continues to shape their whisky's character to this day. These stills allow for more reflux, which refers to the process where some of the vapor produced during distillation condenses back into liquid within the still and then trickles back down to be reheated. This process gives those vapors a second chance to interact with the liquid in the pot, leading to a purer and more refined final product.

In this case, Glenmorangie's stills result in a lighter and more elegant spirit compared to their more shorter counterparts, which are more commonly seen in distilleries across the world.  The distillery also uses a slower distillation process, which further removes heavier compounds and contributes to a smoother and more floral character. They double down on this characteristic honey-like, floral flavor through the use of unpeated barley for kilning. As opposed to traditional peat, this contributes a light and floral character to their whiskies.  

 

Gordon L Smart was appointed Distillery manager in 1920 after his father Alexander, the previous Distillery manager, passed away. His core workforce at the Distillery - the so-called ‘16 Men of Tain’ - were also long-serving and provided a wealth of whisky making experience and time-honoured skills. (Image Source: Glenmorangie)  

 

Glenmorangie's base whisky is usually aged 10 years and made with grain from local farmers. This base spirit is most commonly aged in ex-bourbon oak casks, but what highlights Glenmorangie's offerings is the distillery's focus on casks used in their double maturation process. 

Today, Glenmorangie stands as a global icon, renowned for its smooth and approachable single malts. For now, we start off with The Lasanta as we work through three of Glenmorangie's core range.

Glenmorangie The Lasanta 12 Year Sherry Oak Finish - Review 

We're off to the races with Glenmorangie's first offering. This particular whisky has spent ten years maturing in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before being double matured for a further two years in Oloroso and PX Sherry casks hailing from Jerez in Spain.

Fun fact, "Lasanta" is actually a Gaelic word for warmth (or passion).

Tasting Notes

Colour: Dark Amber

Nose: The sherry immediately makes itself known on the first inhale. Raisin, citrus and caramel come up in equal parts too. A small amount of oak comes forth, followed closely by a sweet vanilla. Small amount of ethanol bite toward the end and what I can only describe as old books.

Palate: There's a good amount of vanilla and just a little bit less oak. You definitely still get sherry up front and center, although it fades much faster than what you get on the nose. There is a sweetness that reminds of dark berries and just a little kick of tannin-infused citrus. The mouthfeel isn't particularly oily or chewy, but reminds me alittle of melted butter.

Finish: There's a slight oaky spiciness that slides down the roof of your mouth. I was pleasantly surprised with a finish that had cereal notes, with just a hint of bitter dark chocolate. It's a short to medium finish that is "haunted" by a sweet, berry-like ghost.

My Thoughts

Overall a pleasant dram. We're off to a good start with the amount of complexity for a 12 year old. That being said, the flavors don't quite evolve much even with rest or dilution, which is ideal for those that want to explore sherry-casks but don't quite enjoy an overly sherry bomb that overstays its welcome. Glenmorangie fans will still enjoy this offering, as all the characteristic honey-citrus notes are still there in equal footing. If anything, the oak was surprisingly mellow for a 12-year, so those hunting for strong oaky notes might need to take some time to find them. 

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Port Cask Finish - Review

Bottled without chill filtration at 46% ABV, the Quinta Ruban is a whisky built on a base of basic Glenmorangie aged 12 years, followed by an additional stopover of two more years into Port Wine casks coming from Quinta Ruban.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Darker Gold

Nose: Overripe grapes and dark fruit. Oak, vanilla and just a little chocolate. Letting it sit for a few minutes opens up a stronger malt front, proceeded by a more pronounced sherry note. It's definitely sweet, although how sweet remains to be seen.

Palate: The mouthfeel of this was surprising. More full bodied than the Lasanta, it still wasn't quite chewy, but had more body to it that coated the mouth nicely. Where the Lasanta reminds of Sherry, the Quinta Ruban gently reminds of Port. There's that familiar Port-like sweetness highlighted with an edge of musty old grapes and a peppery note. Of course, the familiar Glenmorangie notes remain, with honey, cinnamon, light citrus and oaky vanilla being present. 

Finish: A medium finish. You also get a little nut bitterness and a tinge of wine grapes, which would very much appeal to Port lovers. A presence of spice and chocolate makes an appearance, although it's not as pronounced as the Lasanta. I would have missed it if I was too preoccupied with the sherry aspects. It's also pleasantly dry. There's some herbaceous note floating around before the end, although I can't quite place it. Not exactly as strong as say, parsley, but not as light as an earthy grass.

My Thoughts

In my opinion, the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 years is a solid dram, all things considered. The Port cask is definitely prominent here, so this definitely checks that box, yet to some slight extent pushing the Glenmorangie malt character slightly to the back. However, I feel it strikes an even better balance than the Lasanta, marrying the best of both Scotch and Port worlds, with a pleasant resulting balance of sweet and savory notes. 

If you favor bolder expressions with pronounced sweetness and fruity notes, this whisky will likely impress. However, if you seek the quintessential malty character of a Highland single malt, you might find it less prominent here. It leans more towards the easy-drinking side. If you liked the Lasanta and wanted to explore more into the world of finished, double-matured Scotch, this is a good pick. It's increased complexity and balanced mix of both bourbon and sherry impacts are pleasant and informative.

Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Year Old - Review 

The 16-year-aged Glenmorangie single malt is initially matured in classic bourbon casks (As Glenmorangie does) for a foundation of vanilla and honeyed sweetness. It is then finished for two additional years in a specially selected combination of sweet wine casks. Envision Sauternes and Monbazillac from France, renowned for their opulent richness, alongside Spanish Moscatel and Hungarian Tokaji barrels with their silky sweetness.

Take note: The Glenmorangie The Nectar is different from the previously-existing Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or. Consider it a rebirth if you will, but there's a few differences. Mainly, The Nectar is aged for 16 years while the Nectar D'Or is aged for 12. The Nectar is also double matured in a combination of Sweet Wine Casks (Sauternes, Monbazillac, Moscatel, Tokaji) while the Nectar D'Or sticks to Sauternes Wine Casks.  

Tasting Notes

Colour: Amber.

Nose: The first impression is undeniably inviting. It's a dessert-like spread – notes of honey, stonefruit, and vanilla intertwine with a hint of toasted almond and even a touch of chocolate. The influence of the ex-bourbon casks is evident in the sweetness, and like the previous offerings of the Lasanta and Quinta Ruban, that honey-citrus Glenmorangie is present. It's even more prominent in this experience.

Palate: The initial sweetness on the nose continues on the palate, with a rich and almost treacly texture that is just light enough to prevent it from being cloying. Honeycomb and orange syrup flavors come to the forefront, alongside hints of what I can describe as bread. A lip-smacking mouthfeel that's slightly oily. It is also a small amount of peat-like pepper notes that spike and disappear again in the middle of the palate. In the back, there exists a gentle wave of spice and a touch of citrus. There's a small amount of bitterness.

Finish: Again, a medium finish like the Quinta Ruban. It certainly doesn't overstay its welcome. The honey note persists all the way, making just enough space for vanilla and citrus. It ends on a more bitter note that reminds of dark, dark chocolate and just a pinch of wine-like kick.

My Thoughts

What comes to mind is that Glenmorangie's The Nectar would be a delightful indulgence for those preferring something straightforward and easygoing. The honeyed richness and smoothness can't be denied – it's a dram that feels like a summer breeze. It's very much a dessert in a glass, with each sip revealing layers of honeyed sweetness, spiced fruit, and a hint of oaky maturity.

Fair warning, the sweetness here is prominent. For those who enjoy exploring different flavor profiles not commonly found in a Scotch, the Nectar offers a unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience. It's certainly not as complex as the Quinta Ruban, leaning more towards a candied, honeycombed version of the Lasanta. Those who shy away from those offerings' wine-like profile but still want to be involved would certainly enjoy this from the core range. 

The Conclusion

Glenmorangie's new and updated core range selection is another wonderful take on Scotch if you want to change things up a bit from your everyday pour. It's a particularly good introduction to Sherry, Port and Sweet White Wine casks when applied to Scotch, and will no doubt inform new drinkers out for both an adventure and a lesson. Among the three, there's a sufficient amount of complexity and simplicity interwoven between each nose, palate and finish, without being too complicated or jarring. Glenmorangie fans will especially appreciate the classic notes of a Glenmorangie, which provides a soothing familiarity even as they try to figure out something new. 

Sherry and Port drinkers will also appreciate the seamless marriage of their chosen spirits with the complex nature of Scotch, allowing themselves a rare chance to have the both of both worlds in comfortable amounts.

Personally, I'd have to pick the Glenmorangie The Nectar as my favorite. Perfect for people with a sweet tooth such as I, The Nectar is delightfully dessert-like in an almost flamboyant kind of way, while staying true to its Scotch roots.

Lok Bing Hong A budding journalist that loves experiencing new things and telling people's stories. I have 30 seconds of coherence a day. I do not decide when they come. They are not consecutive.