Review: Glenmorangie “A Tale of Spices”

The latest semi-experimental Scotch from Glenmorangie‘s “A Tale of…” series is, on the surface, an obvious one: Spice notes are endemic to single malt Scotch, so it makes sense that Dr. Bill Lumsden would try to amp them up with this offering, the sixth bottling in the long-running collection.

Designed to mimic a spice market. Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is “made from a marriage of Glenmorangie finished in four different cask types for the first time.” Those casks include new charred oak, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, and shaved, toasted red wine casks (STR casks). The fourth cask is an experimental one — Moroccan red wine casks.

Dr Bill said: “I have always loved the variety of colours and aromas I’ve found in spice markets around the globe. Some years ago, Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and I experimented with Moroccan red wine casks for the first time and became captivated by the fragrant, spiced notes that they imparted to our whisky. From there, we created an unusual cask recipe of new charred oak, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and shaved, toasted red wine casks to create a mosaic of flavours. Each sip of this limited edition is like immersing yourself in the sensory delights of a spice market – with new flavours and aromas at every turn. There are complex, earthy notes of ginger, nutmeg and cumin, with sweet floral hints and sugared almonds floating over the top. A sensory delight for single malt lovers to explore and enjoy.”

Big promises there; let’s see how it works out.

Glenmorangie “A Tale of Spices” Review

First impressions surprise: This doesn’t nose as particularly spicy, though the red wine barrels (fresh and stripped) make an impact right away. This doesn’t come across with any particularly aromatic herbaceousness, but rather a chewy, doughy character that I often associate with red wine or Marsala barrels. Bold cereal and nougat notes offer an indistinct maltiness, leathery and hemp-like.

The palate continues that boldly malty theme with notes of ground almonds and almond milk, coconut husks, and oily wood. Again, it isn’t particularly spicy aside from some notes of saffron and green cardamom, with a lightly tannic quality enduring. I didn’t find much of anything in the official tasting notes at play here, which run from nutmeg to ginger to rose, though the finish does find a fleeting floral quality before retreating to its intensely ropey, barnyard-like qualities.

It’s never bad; it’s just not memorable in any way, especially when compared to some of the other delights in this series.

92 proof.

B / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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