It is amazing the difference a couple of years in good French oak can make The Burgundy Cask was quite a treat. I can’t wait to try the effect of Madeira Cask on the Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish.

In 1843, William Matheson founded the Glenmorangie Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Inspired by the Distillery’s peaceful surroundings on the banks of the Dornoch Firth, he brought forth a pioneering single malt whisky wonderfully complex and exceptionally smooth. Ever since, we have pursued our craft with uncompromising dedication – endlessly creative in our quest for perfection. To this day, we honour the Distillery’s provenance in our award-winning single malt. Its pure, smooth spirit is distilled in Scotland’s tallest stills, matured in the finest casks and perfected by The Men of Tain. And, in the hands of these select craftsmen, the guardians of the spirit, Glenmorangie will surely delight malt whisky lovers for generations to come.

Madeira is an island belonging to Portugal , in the middle of the Atlantic, with a population of about 300,000 people. Its major export is its wine, funnily enough named, you guessed it, Madeira. It is made like a port or sherry and sits in between, being not as porty as port and not as sherried a sherry.

Based on these details I expect we will see some fascinating sherry like features in the Madeira Wood Finish, with some hints of fine port. It should be quite a divergence from the Burgundy wood finish and hence a great example of effect of oak aging on good whisky.

Just a reminder that the Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish is not being made any more! I have secured most of what is left of this expression for the members of our club.

DISTILLERS NOTES

Bottle Size : 700ml
ABV : 46% abv
Region : Scotland – Highlands
Peated : No

Colour: Rich chestnut gold

Nose: Candied honey in milk chocolate, simmering coffee With a drop of water, ripe fruits like plums, figs, raspberries

Palate: Rich, fruity and sweet burst of mouth- watering plums and raspberries, followed by tingly spices (cinnamon and nutmeg)

Finish: Long and ‘tingly’ with raspberries, plums and cocoa powder.

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish