[WHISKY REVIEW] Sun-Baked Deliciousness From Glenmorangie 🥃
On March 17 this year, Glenmorangie released a bottle with the name Bacalta. It's the eighth edition in Glenmorangie's Private Edition series. This edition was first stored on ex-bourbon casks for ten years and then finished on Madeira casks. So the Bacalta is essentially a Glenmorangie 10 that has spent about two extra years on ex-Madeira wine casks. To be more specific, these casks used to contain Malmsey (which is also the name of the grape variety), the richest and sweetest kind of Madeira characterized by its dark color and coffee-caramel flavors. Bacalta means baked in Scottish Gaelic. This is in reference to the Canteiro method, a process used for the more expensive wines made from the noble grapes where they sun-bake the casks to produce these caramel aromas. If you want to know more about the Glenmorangie distillery go ahead and read my previous articles: Glenmorangie 10 & Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or.
Glenmorangie Bacalta
ABV: 46%
Age: ~12 yo
Region: Northern Highlands
Price: ~110 USD / 0.7L
Non-chill filtered
Appearance: Dark gold. The color testifies to wine maturation with a darker tone than a regular Glenmorangie.
Nose: Marzipan, cocoa, nougat and wet wood. The usual vanilla and toffee notes are well hidden, but lurk in the background. With a few minutes in the glass, a light spiciness comes forward, and the associations go to a Mediterranean kitchen. On the fruity side, there are sun-ripened apricots and orange marmalade. The tart notes from the Madeira are well-restrained. Overall, very sunny and inviting.
Palate: Significantly richer and more powerful than you might usually associate with Glenmorangie. Very nice balance with elements of honey, almonds, dates, red plums, milk chocolate and orange. There are also light spicy notes of cinnamon and cloves. Not extremely complex, but very pleasant and yummy. Add to that a quite creamy mouth-feel.
Finish: Medium-long with sweet notes of toffee and honey, together with wood, vinous tartness and an unexpected minty aroma.
Conclusion: Unusually well balanced for a wine finished whisky. The sweet and sunny notes make for high drinkability. Maybe not worth $110, but definitely enjoyable. When it comes to the score I have to take the price into consideration though. I can get a port finished Arran for half the price or less. With that in mind I can't justify a score higher than 85 points out of 100.
Finally, some fitting folk music from Madeira:
Sounds like a unique experience :-) .. You are the whisky master on Steemit my friend :-)
A uniquely sunny experience and a much needed break from the smokey islands :) Cheers my friend!
The price point seems awfully steep for a 10 year whisky. Here in the US, I can ususall get something comparable (Mcallan 10, Redbreast 12 , Glenfiddich 12, etc) for a price point of a little less than half that. I gather it has to do with the aging in both Bourbon and Maderia casks. I guess my question would be is it unusual and unique enough to splurge for some?
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It is overpriced for sure. But yes, the whole, undismantled Madeira casks are probably not cheap. That's half the explanation. The other half is probably marketing. My advice is, try a dram in a bar.
Nice !! 100% upvoted @chanthasam
Thank you!
Just got a Bottle of Glenfarclas 105, for Fathers Day. Powerful but Smooth and Velvety, if you can cope with its Strength.
Have you tried it?
Gazza.
Oh yes, the 105 is a classic that I'm more than happy to drink! I've reviewed it on Steemit: https://steemit.com/whisky/@steemswede/whisky-tasting-glenfarclas-105-a-rowdy-beast-to-be-tamed-but-not-by-a-novice