Yesterday I wrote I was happy due to the Glenlivet single cask that was released exclusively to the Israeli market but earlier this month there was another sign that we’re getting noticed in the whisky industry: The annual Glenmorangie Private Edition launch events around the globe included Israel as well with a proper launch event by the local Glenmorangie importer (Y.D 1986) and with actual bottles available to purchase on the same day for the same price as most European countries. Another first time happenstance in our whisky history and a good sign to Israeli whisky aficionados.
Now I have to admit that I have a soft spot for this series. Ever since I bought and tried the Glenmorangie Finealta, I’ve been following this series closely and buying a bottle every year for the last few years and so I did purchase a bottle from a local web shop – what a refreshing change, buying and getting it in the same day instead of waiting for the bottle for 3-4 weeks.
However, the review was delayed because after tasting it and checking my notes against the official notes I found out that a major note I found (chalk and rocks) wasn’t anywhere in the official notes nor any note that can be considered as an alternative. That got me worried at first but since I did taste it directly from a new bottle, I thought maybe it needs some time and so I did re-taste it this week and now I was more satisfied as the rocks/chalk note disappeared 🙂
I won’t bother much with the information and story of the bottling, suffice to note it’s around 12 year old – spent ten years as the standard Glenmorangie Original and then around 2 years in those special Madeira casks Dr. Lumsden picked up.
Glenmorangie Bacalta (46%, £77.95)
Nose: Oranges and mandarins, soft nuttiness, baked pears pie with strong pastry note, strong and rounded baking spices and hints of canned peaches after a few minutes in the glass. And there’s no doubt it’s a Glenmorangie. When I first nosed it, the first image that pop up in my mind was sitting on warm rocks on a cliff in a hot spring day because there was a strong warm rocks and chalk note that was noticed after a few minutes. Continue reading
Nose: Oh a barrage of green apples, feels almost like an applies cider with bubbles-like feeling due to the high ABV, vanilla and lemon, very fruity with tropical edge. With water it’s getting spicier and a pineapple note is added. It has a rich, crisp and bold – really an excellent nose. 
Aged in four different hand-selected casks; ex-bourbon barrels, quarter casks, virgin American oak barrels and European oak hogsheads, vigilance and craftsmanship hold the key to this complex Islay malt. Bright golden in colour, Laphroaig Four Oak has aromas of peat smoke with stewed fruit and warm, toasted vanilla. With hints of sandalwood, pine, fir and willow, experience oak embers and seaweed with smooth buttercream on the palette and a salted liquorice and peaty finish.
For two centuries, Laphroaig master craftsmen have worked to shape the most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies. This exceptional edition was created by current Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell, to honour those who have gone before him. Left to rest in first-fill, ex-bourbon barrels before further maturing in large, new European oak hogsheads maturation occurs slowly, resulting in a whisky of great depth.
Nose: starts malty and intense with promises of spices with pepper and freshly sawed oak wood. Now the peat shows up and there’s a strong feel of freshness and sweetness despite strong note of salt. A few whiffs of fish sauce like being on the beach near the fishermen with their fresh haul, honey and vanilla pudding, I did say fresh, right? Getting sweeter over time, more vanilla pudding and the peat can’t rise farther and stays relaxed with a bit of perfume and peaches. 
Nose: What a rich nose! A very heavy wine influence, sour red fruits, peat, motor oils and the Campbeltown funk just behind it, rich on the front but hints at dryness, nuts, tannins and fruits glazed with brown sugar. Great combo of funk and sweet fruity wine. 
Nose: Sweet and with pungy edge which I can attribute to smoke, rich, full and creamy, sweet red wine, red fruit, nuttiness, fudge. After a long time getting soursweet red berries. It’s not a complex nose and the wine impact is very strong here. 
Nose: Malt, citrus bitterness (grapefruit and the white layer between the peels and the fruit meat) with that distinct hops greenery and bitterness. Then comes the fruit sweetness, green and unripe pears and apples and yet behind that initial wave it’s still a very classic Glenfiddich, honey, vanilla, bread, very smooth with a touch of white pepper. After a while in the glass it’s pretty much all classic Glenfiddich with a slight IPA bitterness. 
Nose: Elegant and light sherry notes at first: sweet dried fruit with some fresh berries thrown in for a good measure accompanied by cinnamon. Then honey, cereals, pears and white fruit, soft and creamy vanilla with crushed nuts, quite a rich nose and after a while the lovely sherry notes comes back for good. 
Nose: Fruit and herbals, eucalyptus, mint, nuts, flower petals (of light colors), floral meadow on a spring day, oranges, peaches after a while with more flower petals. With water it’s lighter and sweeter with added fragrance. Real nice! 
Whisky Gospel 