Glenmorangie, Quinta Ruban.
Open the cork and smell. Instantly a mature smokey wood-like scent will tease your nose. Keep smelling. Through the punch, a subtle chocolate and tangerine aroma will come about. Are we there yet? No, you’re still just smelling. Walnut and Sandalwood give way slowly followed with pepper and nutmeg.
Enticed yet?
This 12 year bottle spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks before delicately being transferred into port casks from the Quinta’s of Portugal.
As you taste the smokey flavor swirls from the glass into your mouth, smoothly, tastefully. The smells you picked up on finally have flavor as you slowly drink the sunlit rose gold liquid.
Long after its done, chocolate, mint, and a hint of orange reside in your mouth as a subtle ‘Ah…’ comes out in remark to the taste. And that was just your first sip.
Whisky is an experience. That experience encompasses and engages all senses, triggering old memories and creating new ones. I think that is why I have such a profound adoration for the drink.