Showing posts with label Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. Show all posts

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Review



Country: Scotland
Brand: Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Region: Highland
Age: NAS
Alcohol: 46%

Colour: Golden Amber with a Reddish Glow

Nose: Port Wine, Red Grape Juice, Oak, Malt, Fresh Cut Grass, Strong Citrus Fruit (Tangerine, Orange, Grapefruit) and Nutmeg. After a while Vanilla, Pears, Honey, Buttered Toast and light Acetone. There is some green Wood and a bit of Alcohol around that leads me to believe that some younger whisky might have been used in this expression. Otherwise I would have scored the Nose a full point higher. The Alcohol is particularly strong when you have just opened the (in this case 10cl.) bottle. It’s essential to give this dram some air before starting to nose it. 

Taste: Strong delivery thanks to the 46% with Orange-Chocolate, Red Grapes, Port Wine, Tangerine, Honey, Malt, Oak, Cocoa, Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, White Pepper) Raisins, Nuts and Dried Apricots.

Finish: Warming. Port Wine, Bitter Orange, Mint, Spices (Cloves, Ginger and White Pepper), Aniseed. The Bitter Orange stays around for a while.


With a bit of Water you tone down the Alcohol on the nose but loose a bit of the intensive Fruit. On the Palate the Spices loose their power and the Red Wine/Red Grape Juice and Orange impressions increase. Lots of Cooked Dark Red Fruits and Red Wine on the Finish. This dram certainly allows you to experiment with a couple of drops.

Rating: 84 

Nose  21– Taste 22 – Finish 20 – Overall 21

General Remarks: This Single Malt has probably matured for 10 years in American White Oak and 2 years in Ruby Port pipes from Portugal. But it’s NAS so younger whiskies could have been included. It’s Non-Chill-filtered. It replaces the  12 Years Port Wood Expression.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I found this dram not so easy to judge. On the one hand I’m not really a fan of Red Wine Finishing. Somehow the combination of Whisky and Red Wine does not quite work for me. Especially on the Palate and in the Finish I find that the Red Wine generally takes too much control. On the other hand this is the best Red Wine Finishing I’ve tasted so far. The Nose is quite nice although it takes a long time to open up. Not sure how much of this, if any, is caused by the 10 cl bottle. On the Palate the strong Port Wine tones are counter-balanced by the Orange flavoured Chocolate and the Spices. The Finish is the weakest part of this dram. All in all however I find the Quinta Ruban quite enjoyable although I wouldn’t drink this every day. But occasionally, as an after dinner dram with Coffee and a fine dark Chocolate, the Quinta Ruban will do just fine.

Jan van den Ende                                                         September 21, 2012