Glenmorangie Finealta
Scotch whisky’s evolution from a primitive product to its modern virtuosity has taken centuries, and you can spend a lifetime tasting and exploring the best. Here’s our guide to help you find your way.
With a large portion of the magazine focused on scotch, Wine Spectator presents a great overview fit for beginners and experts alike on the complexities of this fine spirit, its history, how it's made, and reviews of 64 single malts.
Among those reviews, one caught my eye. I've enjoyed many a dram of Glenmorangie but the recent addition of Glenmorangie Finealta to their stable of fine whisky's looked very intriguing. Incidentally, Finealta is Gaelic for 'elegant'. What makes this particular whisky is how the recipe for it came to be:
Glenmorangie Finealta is a painstaking recreation of a recipe dating back to 1903. Matured in a combination of American white oak casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks this whisky is unusual for its light touch of peatiness - a reminder of a time when Glenmorangie dried its barley in a peat fired kiln.
Distillery archives show that at this time, Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt was being served at The Savoy in London. Making this whisky a window onto a grander age, where optimistic young souls toasted sweeping changes within Art, fashion, and technology. And where society demanded a drink of both depth and distinction.
The tasting notes for this whisky are equally enticing and I can assure you from having tasted it myself, the notes are right on. This is one of my new favorites. Go out and get yourself a bottle or three. You won't be disappointed.
Aroma
Caramelised orange and peaches soaked in liqueur are instantly revealed before giving way to sugared almonds, raisins, lime and a hint of distant woodsmoke.
Caramelised orange and peaches soaked in liqueur are instantly revealed before giving way to sugared almonds, raisins, lime and a hint of distant woodsmoke.
Taste
Mandarin, marmalade and hints of cherry brandy combine with the spiciness of nutmeg and ginger before icing sugar, chewy meringue and violet build up slowly on the palate.
Mandarin, marmalade and hints of cherry brandy combine with the spiciness of nutmeg and ginger before icing sugar, chewy meringue and violet build up slowly on the palate.
Finish
Full, rounded aromatic smoke with chalky minerals lingers on top of subtle layers of powdery floral scents.
Full, rounded aromatic smoke with chalky minerals lingers on top of subtle layers of powdery floral scents.
Colour
Deep Amber
Deep Amber
