Glenmorangie is famend for having the tallest stills in Scotland – for those who hear anybody factor about Glenmorangie, that is normally it.
Due to the peak of their stills (the distillery claims their stills have necks that attain the identical peak as an grownup male giraffe), Glenmorangie has adopted the giraffe a type of unofficial mascot. In 2020, Glenmorangie even partnered with the Giraffe Conservation Basis to lift consciousness and shield these animals.
I’m unsure how many individuals have seen the current whisky and giraffe photoshoots, or the “giraffe present tin” packaging for his or her 10-year-old Authentic? Pretty efficient advertising and marketing, or maybe one thing that simply resonated with me as I occur to stay in an space surrounded by quite a few recreation reserves – and once I drive previous and catch glimpses of their giraffes, I now discover myself considering of Glenmorangie!
I’m a giant fan of Glenmorangie – in truth, a few their expressions had been a few of my very first whisky loves. Due to this, I used to be fairly excited to snag this bottle of whisky. It was formally launched in April this 12 months, however it’s solely simply begun to truly make an look on the cabinets of bottle shops in my space.
Whereas I’m positive it gained’t be a priority for everybody, I’ll say it upfront: one of many issues I like most about this whisky is its value. I discovered a bottle for $32 (roughly the identical value as Glenmorangie’s 10-year-old – which I hear is within the technique of being discontinued and changed by a brand new 12-year-old expression). Many of the newest releases from Glenmorangie have been accompanied by a reasonably hefty price ticket, so it was refreshing to have the ability to get my fingers on one thing of theirs that’s extra budget-friendly. It’s a no-age-statement whisky, in order that’ll be a part of the explanation behind its affordability.
The second factor I used to be intrigued by is the usage of ex-rye casks for growing old. Rye whiskies are recognized for his or her spicy character – suppose pepper and different baking spices, akin to cinnamon or cloves, in addition to contemporary or natural undertones – which might carry over into whiskies aged in ex-rye barrels. I’ve a gentle spot for rye whisky usually, so I used to be actually to see what impact their use would have on this whisky.
Ex-rye cask maturation in Scotch whisky is comparatively uncommon in comparison with another cask varieties, like ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and even ex-wine casks. Nevertheless, there has positively been rising curiosity by quite a few distilleries in experimenting with ex-rye casks in recent times, and there are actually just a few Scotch whiskies on the market which were matured to some extent, or completed, in ex-rye casks (together with expressions from Johnnie Walker, Ardbeg and Isle of Raasay).
That is additionally not the primary time that Glenmorangie has experimented with ex-rye casks. Spios, which was launched in 2018 as a part of Glenmorangie’s Non-public Version sequence, was a single malt matured solely in ex-rye casks. Sadly, I by no means managed to get my fingers on a bottle of this explicit launch.
Glenmorangie’s Triple Cask Reserve, because the identify suggests, is a wedding of whisky that has been matured in three various kinds of cask: ex-bourbon, new charred American oak, and ex-rye casks. In itself, that is additionally one thing that strikes me as slightly totally different to the opposite whiskies in Glenmorangie’s core vary. Usually their core vary of whiskies are matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks earlier than being completed for just a few years in another kind of cask (their 12-year-old Lasanta which is completed in sherry casks, and their 14-year-old Quinta Ruban which is completed in port casks, for instance). The Triple Cask Reserve breaks this sample. It’s considered one other entry-level expression for Glenmorangie, and formally bottled at an approachable 40% ABV.
Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve – Assessment
Color: Brassy gold.
On the nostril: Ripe plums and pears. Cherry liqueur sweets. Golden syrup and occasional flavoured hard-boiled sweets. Some candy cinnamon. Woody and earthy aromas lurk within the background alongside a lingering observe of cocoa.
Within the mouth: Pink apples and cherries. Darkish caramel and fragrant wooden. I discovered that there’s additionally an virtually refreshing observe, one thing like peppermint, which is current (a particular affect from the ex-rye casks, maybe?). A touch of marzipan, and the gentlest tingle of pepper. Fairly oily in texture, with a typically deeper and richer flavour than the nostril would counsel. The end that lingers is nice, however this finally provides option to a faintly drying sensation that I might not have anticipated.
I discovered the empty glass had notes of intensely candy honey and hay.
Conclusions:
Total, I believe that Glenmorangie’s new Triple Cask Reserve is a superb addition to their core lineup. Evidently the usage of an attention-grabbing mixture of casks has imparted a richer and extra complicated profile than one may anticipate from an entry-level whisky. It additionally appeared as if the affect of the rye cask particularly, whereas not overwhelming, was positively noticeable. It virtually goes with out saying that for those who’re not a fan of rye whisky, then this one won’t be to your style – however for those who’re trying to get into rye whisky then this whisky may present a barely muted introduction to a few of these conventional rye flavours. Maybe not essentially the most nuanced of drams, at round $32 a bottle it’s nonetheless a wonderful worth for cash whisky, and it gives one thing slightly totally different from the opposite expressions in Glenmorangie’s core vary.
