Highland

Glenmorangie Spìos Private Edition No. 9
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$60-100
Website

What the Distillery Says

A spirited tribute to American rye

Step into a world of bold spice and silky sophistication with Glenmorangie Spìos – the ninth release in our esteemed Private Edition series. Gaelic for ‘spice’, Spìos is inspired by America’s iconic rye whiskey heritage, and is the first Glenmorangie ever fully matured in ex-American rye whiskey casks.

These rare casks infuse our signature Highland single malt with a vibrant, peppery character, elegantly balanced by creamy vanilla and sweet toffee. On the nose, expect curious hints of clove, cinnamon and fresh herbs. The palate opens into a lively burst of orchard fruits, nutmeg and baking spice, before melting into a long, warming finish.

Non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV, Spìos is a connoisseur’s celebration of spice – complex, adventurous, and unmistakably Glenmorangie.

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Fresh, herbal nose with hints of cherry, clove, green grass and perfumed oak.
Taste: A full-bodied, spicy dram with bursts of toffee, clove, cinnamon and sweet spice.
Finish: Long and warming, with layers of sweet and dry spice unfolding gently.

What Gary Says

Nose: Herbal and floral, with both citrus and grape notes, hint of Riesling.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, orange creamsicle, cherries, apples, cinnamon, clove and honey.
Finish: Tilting towards long with citrus spices building.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram. My first impression (without knowing anything about it at the time) was this was a white-wine matured single malt, as the grape notes on the nose reminded me a bit of cognac. Definitely different with the rye cask maturation; I like it! I hadn’t heard of rye casks being used like this, but I can see where this would provide a lot of interesting possibilities in blending (and with American rye whiskey gaining popularity over the last decade, those casks need a home!)

Rating: Stands Out

Glen Garioch 31 Year Old Angus Thanes Series Macbeth Act One
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

54.6% ABV
$930-$1,000
Website

What the Retailer Says

One of 12 noble malts chosen to represent the Thanes in Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. This vatting of four first-fill bourbon barrels is a fantastic example of rich, weighty 1990s Glen Garioch. More than three decades in American oak has created a concentrated and full-bodied dram with satisfying notes of panettone, candied peel, and banana.

The whiskies for this series were chosen by Elixir Distillers based on character profiles created by spirits writer Dave Broom. Each bottling features artwork from celebrated illustrator Sir Quentin Blake.

Tasting Notes (courtesy of Joe Rogers, The Whisky Exchange)
Nose: Candied peel, white grapes and kiwis. After those fruity notes comes a much richer side with panettone, dried apricots and golden syrup
Palate: More green fruit, then bananas, cough candy and barley sugars. It’s nicely fat and oily in texture with oat cakes, nutmeg, wildflowers and dry chalky white wines
Finish: Long and stony with a lingering fruitiness
Comment: Brilliantly textural with lots of character. A very enjoyable dram

What Gary Says

Nose:  Light, floral, subtle fruit with peaches, pears and baked apples, honey, heather and a bit of nylon rope.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, honey, vanilla, orange marmalade with peaches, cinnamon and building pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with fruit spice.
Comments:  This is a quite nice dram, and an interesting concept (as a fan of The Bard, I’m curious about the selection but these are mostly priced outside of my reach; thanks to Richard for providing a sample as he graciously does so often!). Very gentle and tasty; a bit of water brings out a bit of smoked pork on the nose, and mutes that pepper spice build on the palate.

Rating: Stands Out