Glenmorangie's Quinta Ruban 12 Year Old is a fantastic Port cask finished expression, and now the distillery has developed upon the recipe with The Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old! The whisky is initially matured in bourbon casks before being moved over to ruby Port casks, imparting waves of scrumptious fruit and chocolate notes to the spirit. Superb as a postprandial dram.
Summer fruit tart with a sprinkling of icing sugar, aromatic cedar, milky coffee and almond pastries.
Chocolate mousse, Bourbon biscuits, orange oil, more almond notes (now toasted), blackcurrant and raisin.
Lasting richness of stewed berries and dark chocolate.
Lacks the robustness and depth of the 12 year old. Gone are the intense, complex flavours and the nice, long after taste. Overall like it's diluted; even the colour is aenemic. Anything Diagio touches seems to go backwards, like Talisker and Lagavulin 16. Maybe I just have an unsofisticated palate! Anyone who gives this a good review never appreciated the far superior 12 year old. I won't be buying this again!
If Glenmorangie had never made the 12 yo then this would probably be fine... but they did and this isn't. Disappointing all the way - bring back the 12 year old.
Nose: Spice, tangerine, rose petal come through as well. The result is both complex and balanced. Palate: First flavours are spice, but nut and citrus notes follow. I was expecting this whisky to be as spirited as its 12yo sibling, but not so. The additional 2 years has changed this from a sharp to very smooth. Makes for easy drinking. Finish: Long and more complex than a regular Glenmorangie should be. There's chocolate with citrus and, finally, a hint of port. Summary: I was astounded at the difference 2 years makes. I was not too enamoured with the 12yo Quinta, but the 14yo is superb.
Hot and sweet, not sure that is the best combination. A disappointing dram.
Seriously nice whisky, good value for money
