Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Brand: Glenmorangie Lasanta Extra Matured
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Date: 25/12/2012 and 05/01/2013
Colour: Amber/Golden
Nose: Quite Sweet and Syrupy with the characteristic Glenmorangie combination of Orange, Dried Fruits (Raisins, Figs), Oak, Caramel, Honey and Spices like Cinnamon and Ginger. I also get Sherry, Nuts, Malt and Fruity tones like Peach and Mango. A hint of Grounded Roasted Coffee.
Taste: Malt, Sweet Sherry, White Pepper, Orange Liqueur, Vanilla, Nuts (Almonds), Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Licorice and Butterscotch, Hints of Red Grapes, Olive Oil and Grapefruit.
Finish: Sweet at first but dryer towards the end with Orange, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mint, Cocoa, Nuts, Oak and White Pepper.
I added a few drops of Water and the Nose gets a more Fruity and Malty character while Orange and Spices start to dominate the Palate. I prefer this neat but you can certainly experiment with a bit of Water.
Rating: 84.5
Nose: 21 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21
General Remarks: The Lasanta (Gaelic for Warmth) replaces the old Sherry Finish. It has matured for 10 years in Ex-Bourbon Casks and is Extra Matured for 2-3 years in Oloroso Sherry Casks from Spain. It costs around 55 US Dollars.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: The first dram of the Lasanta that I tasted on December 25, 2012 came from a 10 cl. bottle that was part of a gift set that also included the 10 Original, the Nectar d' Or and the Quinta Ruban. Unfortunately I got a strong impression of Sulphur and a clear Rhubarb-like off note. I did not detect Sulphur and off-notes in any of the other three. When my colleague Rodrigo Fernandes read the review he was quite surprised with my findings of Sulphur. He offered me a sample from a large bottle he had recently acquired at the Duty Free Shop at Sao Paulo Airport and I gladly accepted. Thanks for that Rodrigo! I'm tasting this sample today and I do not find any Sulphur or off-notes. I must therefore conclude that something was wrong with the 10 cl. bottle. As a result I have upgraded the Lasanta a full 2 points. This new end result is quite similar to the Quinta Ruban and the Nectar d' Or. And that's about right. All three are Single Malts I will enjoy occasionally as an after dinner dram.
Jan van den Ende January 2013
