Glenmorangie 10 Year Old

Since I’ve mainly been drinking foreign whiskeys lately, I guess I’ve been trying to widen my horizons, I felt an uncontrollable urge just now to return to the hills of home; the highlands of Scotland. And what better way to do so than to have a glass of (proper) whisky? The question, then, was which one to go for. I wanted something nice and creamy, with a body as voluptuous as that of Miss Monroe and a scent as potent as can only be found lingering in Auld Reekie. As the names of potential candidates flew by in my mind’s eye, one stood – Glenmorangie.

It must have been 2 years since I last had it, god knows why, and the prospect of our reunion filled me with excitement. So much so, in fact, that I knocked one of my (empty, don’t you worry) glasses onto the floor. It promptly shattered and I pretended not to notice, it still lays there staring at me with dramatic disbelief. More important things than sweeping the floor are at hand, though, and a man without priorities is no man at all! On to the whisky, I say, and leave the cleaning for Marie (that was an old joke of my Father’s and to this day I don’t get it, but can’t help but use it myself. To my knowledge, he never had a maid called Marie).

Leaving Marie and the broken glass behind (I do hope she doesn’t cut herself, I would feel very guilty), let’s see what this old friend of mine has to offer, shall we? As I lift the glass to my nose and the seductively creamy mixture of scents make their way through my nostrils, subtle and balanced notes of butter melting in a hot pan, distant apples and almond tickle my senses and tests my self control; almost as if challenging me to refrain from taking a sip, while luring my lips to those of the glass. I let them pull me in, and from the first sip this Highland whisky brings to mind buttery, warm vanilla toffee, a sprinkling of citrus and a light dusting of ground cloves and almond. The farewell is lingering and smooth as my old friends slips away, leaving me with a sweet taste in my mouth and filling my body with her warmth.

My opinion of this whisky may be slightly tinted by our complicated past, but I truly do love it. I guess most of you will know what I’m talking about if I say that it holds a special place with me, as some things seem to, for no particular reason that I can think of; a bit like that favorite toy you had as a kid and just can’t bring yourself to put away in the attic. That aside, though, it actually is a good whisky in its own right. Subtle flavors in a creamy packaging, this is one to enjoy with a good book on a cold autumn (or spring, as it turns out) evening (or morning).

Color: The pale golden of a beloved memory.

Nose: beautifully creamy; melting butter, soft apples, almond

Taste: voluptuous; buttery, warm vanilla toffee, slight citrus, cloves and almond.

If you put ice in this, Monroe will quickly turn in to a cold, careless, harsh and unloving version of herself.

Want to buy this whisky? Available in: USA & World (click), UK & Europe (click)