Review #167 - Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter
Finished in Marsala casks - that's the shtick here, on another limited release Glenmorangie bottling. Like the other 'Tale' whiskies, this is presented at 46% ABV, but there's no mention of any chill filtration or added coloring.
There isn't any obvious age statement on this bottle, but in the fine print on the back label, they actually disclose that the finishing took place after 13 years of aging.
Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter
Scotland/Highlands - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 95 (2023)
Age Statement: 13 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Marsala cask finish
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 1 month; bottles at 60% and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Spread across the dark fruit and spice spectrum: dry red wine, figs, prunes, and fruitcake add sweet notes, while allspice, brown sugar, and white pepper add a kick. It gets a bit sweeter with time, with hints of plums and grape, but hot pepper jam and cinnamon keep it balanced.
Palate: Mirrors the nose quite well: medium-thin mouthfeel, full of strong wine cask influence and spices. The fruits are prune and other candied dark fruit, and the spices are strong now: cinnamon, red pepper flakes, wood spice, pepper, and some wood tannins. With time, licorice comes forward, and it's quite cask dominated overall.
Finish: Medium length - quite warming and cozy, a glass of dry red wine or sherry, some dark fruit, sweeter baking spices. There are a few new flavors in this finish as it lingers: molasses, light roast coffee, dark caramel, and again the licorice from the palate.
Final Note: Nice whisky, but a bit one-lane, and definitely dominated by the casks. It's well-crafted, but we would like to see a little bit more of the spirit character come through; still, if wine casks are your jam, this is a good pick. Nice dark fruit and spice flavors, and good for a cozy winter day, as the name would suggest. As for value - because of the higher price, at least in our area, it's a mediocre buy for the price point.
Our Average Rating: 6.8 / 10
Rating Scale:
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.92
