Time to take a break from those posts covering my amazing (at least for me!) trip to Scotland and post some tasting notes so you won’t get angry with me 😉

This time, a trio of Glenmorangie – Nectar D’Or, Lasanta and Quinta Ruban. Those 3 are interesting species as all of them starts as 10 years old Glenmorangie and then finished in different casks for additional 2 years. so how are they?

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or (12yo, 46%, Sauternes cask, buy here for £44.88)

Nose: Starting sweet with the Sauternes impact – vanilla and honey with citrus whiffs. Then come in winery notes with green grapes and fruits. Some echo of spices, sweet, some lactic acid is developing over time. a bit light and watery sense – no substance felt on the nose even with 46% but it’s very soft and relaxed.

Palate: Initial Oak taste, lactic acid and grapes joins in. Then some vanilla, cereal/barley. Gives quite a warm feeling, suddenly some bitter oak which turns sweeter. Quite dry but still creamy.

Finish: Bit numbing, short medium, barley/cereal, sweet honey, whisper of grapes

Glenmorangie Lasanta (12yo, 46%, Sherry cask, buy here for £38.11)

Nose: No doubt this is sherry land. sultanas, berries and other red fruits, sweet, stronger spices whiffs, lemon, fresh and zingy, chocolate, creamy, burnt sugar, nutmeg, cereal. Rich and more full bodied/chewy than the Nectar D’Or

Palate: Smooth and soft, sherry & dried berries tastes with late kick of burn sensation in the throat. Chocolate, toffee, nutmeg.

Finish: Smooth, warm, sherry influence, fruit and sweet.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban (12yo, 46%, Port cask, buy here for £41.35)

Nose: Initially the nose is restrained but after a few minutes the port notes shows up. some dark berries jam, a bit dry but sweet, darker and rich, some floral notes, chocolate.

Palate: Raisins, Dark port, chocolate, oak, nutmeg.

Finish: Short-medium (shorter then Lasanta), warm and oaky, some bitterness that dissipate leaving us with oak and flowing sweetness.

Conclusion: The Nectar D’Or is nice dram by itself, could see myself having a glass of it on a warm spring day. For me it was a very close race between Lasanta and the Quinta Ruban till the end, where Lasanta won by a hair. The Palate of the Quinta Ruban is fantastic but I felt that overall the Lasanta was better with better nose and not too shabby palate. It could be that on a different day, the Quinta Ruban would win.

Samples received from my friend Tom, an avid Glenmorangie fan and core #WhiskyFabric member, Thanks Tom!