The Original is the flagship single malt Scotch whisky from the Glenmorangie Distillery in the Highlands. Matured in a combination of first-and-second-fill American white oak casks for 10 years, the expression is a benchmark for creamy, approachable single malt. A long-running go-to dram for many whisky enthusiasts (including a few here at MoM Towers), this stuff is superb as an aepritif, though more than suitable for enjoying on a cooler evening.
Very fruity and thick. Rich notes of lemon, nectarine and apple. Spices.
Fresh and balanced, vanilla. Boiled sweets, very creamy, tiramisu, toffee.
Quite long, gentle, malty and very fruity.
Glenmorangie is one of those drams that many people “move on” from, in search of exotic liquors. Tangy, smokey Islay malts, rare bourbons, aged rums. Like the ubiquitous Fender Telecaster, it is shunned by the inexperienced as “limited” or “for beginner’s”. I know. I made the same mistake. Why have something every single pub in Scotland has when you can have a Scapa! Until recently I had drunk Glenmorangie a handful of times in my >30 year whisky career. After drinking practically every single malt whisky I could find or afford, I returned to the one I probably ordered first in my life. I probably put ice in it! The 18 year old is like coming home to your favourite meal. The ten is absolutely straightforward. It is a little sweet, a little bitter, with a slightly buttery consistency. There is nothing about it that stands out particularly, but it does everything it needs to. No show. No Unique Selling Point. Just perfectly decent, single malt whisky that you can drink anytime and not be disappointed with.
Initially, this tastes too much alcohol and spicy. However, it was very surprising that after a while, more than anything else, there is very strong, lovely dried date aroma you can smell. Anybody will be able to smell it in an empty bottle of this. Date is a desert fruit, how can something made of grain in a wet and cold place can produce exact same aroma is amazing. High quality liquor that gives you drunken feeling but does not give you hang over headache. The best whiskey I ever had.
ok, I have been thinking this one over for a while, and I believe I got it. Nose, sweet navel oranges or mandarin orange. Palate, fresh squeezed orange juice with a touch of honey. Thats it, thats the deal. Simplistic orange beauty. A delight.
The prince of 10 year old malts
No explanation of this whiskey would be complete without a little backstory. My obsession with scotch began completely by accident. I had given a friend of mine $20 to pick up a bottle of E&J brandy, but he thought I said "J&B". So began a 13 year love affair with the finest spirit known to man. Since then, my palate has grown more sophisticated. Every year, around the holidays, I share that love of good spirits with my family in the form of this classic highland single malt. A nice rich nose of honeydew melon, almonds, and citrus is accompanied by a lovely and creamy amber appearance. The taste is difficult to describe precisely because it changes so much depending on how you drink it. If you sip it with ice, the fruit and honey is very apparent. If you let it warm up, a little more richness like caramel and vanilla toffee starts to emerge. If you really swallow deep, the dark smokiness characteristic of good single malt makes a big appearance. It's just fabulous whiskey for the price. Try it if you have a chance.
