Highland

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Yrs

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Quinta Ruban Aged 14 Years Port Cask Finished

46% ABV
$45-$55
Website
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 yrs Old

What the Distillery Says

A voluptuously silky spirit, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is aged first in bourbon casks for smooth, fruity notes. We then finish this single malt whisky in ruby port casks to create velvety depth.

Our Quinta Ruban port cask finish brings chocolate boldness to Glenmorangie’s renowned smooth style. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel, it is savoured all over the world.
Aroma: Dark mint chocolate, tangerines and Seville oranges mingle with sandalwood and walnut before giving way to a spicy finish of pepper and nutmeg.
Taste: Mint chocolate and walnuts envelop the palate like velvet, laying the foundations for rose, Turkish delight and sweet Seville oranges.
Finish: Long lasting silky aftertaste leaving dark chocolate mints and traces of orange.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Mellow malt with rich notes of port, hints of milk chocolate, berries, smoke and leather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel to start with green apples, pears, chocolate covered cherries; a sharp bite in the mid palate with some pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dark fruit notes, oak and some pepper spice.
Comments:  I tasted this side-by-side with the original Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which is 12 yrs old. I found the nose on this to be similar but with more depth and richness. On the palate, the mouthfeel was creamier at the start, but then got sharper with more depth in fruit. The finish was the most similar, maybe a tad longer. 2 yrs may not sound like a lot, but it was a bigger change than I expected. While a bit more sharp, I don’t mind that as Glenmorangie’s house style tends to be on the smooth side. The fact they’re offering this at the same price I think is outstanding. If you’re a Glenmorangie fan, and in particular a fan of the 12 yr Quinta Ruban, I’c consider this a must try.

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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Loch Lomond 12 Yr Old Single Malt

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Loch Lomond 12 Yr Old Single Malt
46% ABV
$35
Website

What the Distiller Says
THIS EXQUISITE 12 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT HAS A DEEP FRUITY CHARACTER OF PEACH AND PEAR
LAYERED WITH A VANILLA SWEETNESS AND THE CHARACTERISTIC HINTS OF PEAT AND SMOKE FOUND
IN LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES. AGED IN THREE TYPES OF CASK – BOURBON, REFILL AND RE-CHARGED –
THESE WHISKIES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER DELIVERING A PERFECTLY BALANCED SINGLE MALT
UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF MICHAEL HENRY OUR MASTER DISTILLER.

NOSE: Crisp green apple, ripe pear and refreshing citrus lemon with background notes of golden cereal.
TASTE: Orchard fruits and lemon meringue. The deep fruity character of pear lead into citrus lemon, vanilla meringue and light biscuit sweetness.
FINISH: Medium length with gentle wood smoke and a lingering peaty tang.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sweet malt, apricots, not-quite-ripe/tart peaches with orange marmalade on toast; dried cut-grass with a hint of peat.
Palate:  Sweet entry of peach and pear with raisin bread; sharpens into a pepper spice note over peat and a hint of something vegetal.
Finish:  Short, wet with a bit of spice at the end.
Comments:  I hadn’t seen this in Georgia yet, and for the price felt it was worth taking a chance. Glad I did – this is a satisfying, tasty dram – not too complicated, but a sit back, relax and enjoy kind of pour. At $35 a bottle (where I found it in Pennsylvania), a great value too! I’d had tried Loch Lomond Original while in Scotland a few years back, and rather enjoyed it – so hoping they will start showing up with more regularity here in the states.
Rating: Stands Out; Great Value

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Glenturret Old Particular 1987 28 Year Old

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glenturret Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Douglas Laing “Old Particular” 1987 28 Year Old
(K&L Wines Exclusive)
49.7% ABV
$100
Website
1286859x
What the Retailer Says:
It’s rare to see a 25 year old whisky for less than $150 these days, and even when we do see the occasional bottle our first instinct is often to ask: what’s wrong with it? Understanding that natural reaction we had to ask ourselves: how will people respond when we offer them a 28 year old, single barrel, cask strength, Highland single malt for $99.99? We’re hoping you’ll be excited because we’re absolutely thrilled! Glenturret isn’t a household name among whisky drinkers, but for those in the know it’s part of the Edrington portfolio: the group that owns Macallan, Highland Park, and Glenrothes. Glenturret is also considered the oldest distillery in Scotland, having been founded in 1775, and today it’s the home of Famous Grouse: the world-renowned blended whisky in which it plays a large role. This 28 year old expression has reduced naturally down to a perfectly-drinkable 49.7% ABV and has the richness, oiliness, and concentration that only mature whisky can offer. It’s full of brandied fruit, resin, supple caramel, and creamy malted goodness. Despite its old age, the whisky is surprisingly lithe and light on its feet. By no means is this a heavy, full-bodied number, but rather a classic Highland whisky with plenty of barrel-aged complexity. For the price, it’s a no brainer.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Rich, thick depth of tropical fruit salad, herbal spice, subtly floral with a note of malted milk balls.
Palate: Viscous, creamy mouthfeel, crème brluee, fruity (plums, lemon curd) before sharpening to a pepper spice – and then softening up again; a bit of water thins the mouthfeel a bit, but opens up the fruity sweetness further, adding a cereal grain note.
Finish: Long, and softly drying.
Comments: I’d never had anything from Glenturret, and this was more of an opportunistic purchase than anything (had the chance to pop into one of K&L’s stores, and thought “$100 for 28yr single malt? Why not!”) One of the better $100 blind purchases I’ve made. This is a lovely dram, and while very drinkable at bottled/cask strength – it stands up to water nicely. This was one of three bottles I picked up during my visit, and the only one I sought a back-up of. As a single cask private selection (which was sold out in short order), I don’t expect to have another chance to add a third, but this would be an insta-buy for me if I did.
Rating: Must Buy

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The GlenDronach 21 Yr Parliament

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The GlenDronach 21 Yr Parliament
48% ABV
$230
Website

What the Distiller Says
Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a minimum of 21 years, the ‘Parliament’ continues the great GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in its single malts. This rich expression has been named ‘Parliament’ after the colony, or ‘parliament’, of rooks that have been nesting in the trees that overlook the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years. Bottled at 48%, the ‘Parliament’ is non chill filtered and of natural colour.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Deep amber with a cherry wood sheen.
NOSE: A delicate mix of ripe autumnal fruits – notably blackberries and red plums. Rich Oloroso sherry and candied orange segments. Spiced oatmeal biscuits and toasted oak fragrances bring excellent weight and balance.
PALATE: Resolute flavours of fine Oloroso sherry and bitter chocolate sauce, which has been spread liberally over homemade plum pudding. This is all infused with fabulous spicy notes – cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Full bodied with smooth tannins.
CONCLUSION: Long and lingering.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick sherry, fruitcake soaked in alcohol, orange marmalade with cloves, allspice, hints of toffee and leather w/ lingering vanilla pipe smoke.
Palate:  Sweet with chocolate, citrus, currants, raisins; balanced nicely with allspice and nutmeg over oak.
Finish:  Long and lingering w/ a bit of tannic smoke as it trails off.
Comments:  A sherry bomb to be sure, but delicious (if you like that sorta thing). This was the first 21 yr old single malt I ever purchased (in large part because it was only $130 back in 2017, which was a steal). A very nicely balanced dram, with a bit more spice and oak to go with all that dark fruit sweetness. While delicious, if offered a free pour of this or the 15 yr Revival – I think I’d go with the 15 yr.
Rating: Stands Out

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The GlenDronach 18 Yr Old Allardice

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The GlenDronach 18yr Allardice
46% ABV
$160
Website

What the Distiller Says
The GlenDronach 18 years old has been named after the renowned founder of the distillery, James Allardice. This exceptional sherried single malt is non chill filtered and of natural colour. Matured in the finest Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46%, this sublime richly sherried malt is truly unforgettable.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Bright deep gold with a tawny centre.
NOSE: Sweet aromatics of fudge and Muscovado sugar. Fruit compote and glacier morello cherries provide added complexity.
PALATE: Rich dark and seductive. Remarkable flavours of stewed fruits and all-spice marry together with classic aged Oloroso sherry and toasted walnut bread combined with chocolate orange.
CONCLUSION: Tremendously complex and long.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sherried fruit with cloves, musty oak, and leather with hints of smoke.
Palate:  Sweet and soft upon entry, chocolate orange that gradually builds in pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length and drying.
Comments:  This is lighter in color than the 15 yr Revival, and also less intense in the sherry sweetness with a bit more of a spice edge. I get more citrus notes here rather than the dark fruits I often associate with sherry. Nothing objectionable to me; a lovely dram, but after tasting the 15yr Revival, I was a bit underwhelmed by comparison.
Rating: Stands Out

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