2016 didn't start great, but it sure ended awesome on a personal level. I ended up starting a new role at work, being one of 3 successful candidates out of numerous applicants. This has been my first major move in roles within the company since I started, and I'm really pleased that I could take the position and move away from a customer facing role and into internal support in a technology focused role! My team and my manager are fantastic, the job has been great so far, and I'm really hoping I can make an impact on what is a brand new role within the company.
To celebrate my new role, I decided to delve into the world of whisky. I've always been interested in the spirit, and considering my love for good coffee, tea, and food, it only comes naturally that I'd want to explore even MORE expensive hobbies. Whisky is all encompassing term for fermented grain alcohol aged in oak casks. Things can get very specific, and I'll likely discuss those as they come up, but I started with single malt Scotch whiskies, based on malted barley and distilled/aged at a single distillery in Scotland. There's Irish Whiskeys, American Whiskeys, and other worldly options, but those will come up in due time.
Being a beginner to to Scotch world, I looked long and hard into a first bottle. My research guided me to a highland malt, generally considered a gentle and inoffensive introduction to the Scotch world. Compared to the likes of most Islay whiskies, highlands generally aren't peated, and Glenmorangie is no exception. To note as well, it also tends to be one of the most accessible Scotch whiskies available, considering it's one of the most well known brands on the market. How about a dram?
Details:
Distillery: Glenmorangie
Age: 10 Years
Cask: First/second fill American white oak ex-bourbon
ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
Notes:
Nose: Banana, green apple, peaches, lemon zest. Almond, honey, light caramel. Floral notes, rose perhaps?
Palate: Medium body, peaches, grapes, apple. Heavy caramel - butterscotch. Simple. Some antiseptic notes.
Finish: Medium to long. Floral, very faint hints of anise, some soft vanilla. Alcohol burn sticks around. Bitterness the longer it sits, along with more peach.
With water: Caramel more prominent on the nose. Palate sees the younger fruit notes taking more of a back seat, and all the other notes mellowing out. Antiseptic fades. Finish still sees the alcohol burn and the eventual bitterness, but overall improves.
Overall: This was my first single malt, and still something I can happily revisit, even after moving onto other preferred malts. I would say this ranks above Glenlivet and Glenfiddich's entry level offerings, but there are likely better in the same price bracket in Canada. It's an easy drinking malt without a lot of complexity, and a good representation of highland distilleries at the entry level. Would likely try the wine cask finishes, and the older expression if I get the chance eventually.
Expect more Scotch reviews in the future, along with any other spirit that might catch my interest. There's a lot on the market, and I quite like the majority I've tried.