tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post3804262004242285768..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: Single Malt Report: Glenmorangie LasantaMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-83762124862339135092012-12-12T14:37:09.775-05:002012-12-12T14:37:09.775-05:00Sounds like it would beat Lasanta handily. That...Sounds like it would beat Lasanta handily. That's why I love these indie bottlers. They really help expand the shades and levels and potential of whisky.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-27248536001643701902012-12-11T20:42:35.705-05:002012-12-11T20:42:35.705-05:00Well, this doesn't taste like Glenmorangie at ...Well, this doesn't taste like Glenmorangie at all. I think the sherry again covers up the gentler Glenmorangie characteristics but it's very pleasant drinking. I'll say it's better than the Lasanta I tasted before which had a bit of a rough finish. At 50%, I was surprised that it doesn't really need water (it's already quite drinkable) but a couple spoonfuls of water brings out a nice sherry sweetness. However if I were given this blind I don't think I'd ever guess it was Glenmorangie.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-43393540824290165012012-12-11T11:03:32.811-05:002012-12-11T11:03:32.811-05:00Well done, Eric! Enjoy! I may pick up one of tho...Well done, Eric! Enjoy! I may pick up one of those too.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-60398173004699431842012-12-10T19:04:08.676-05:002012-12-10T19:04:08.676-05:00Since I mentioned it in another post, K&L rece...Since I mentioned it in another post, K&L recently put out a 10 year old North Highland Single Malt under their in-house Faultline label. Based on the hints I came to the conclusion the whisky came from Glenmorangie and I was proven right when I picked up my bottle. What's unusual is that this Glenmo was aged entirely in a refill sherry butt hence the darker color (no added color). Can't wait to open this later for a taste.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-72099658289480840262012-11-06T00:45:33.049-05:002012-11-06T00:45:33.049-05:00Will do, though it might not be until after the ho...Will do, though it might not be until after the holidays. Someone's made one too many international purchases of late.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-62716764238613611682012-11-05T20:40:56.661-05:002012-11-05T20:40:56.661-05:00Thanks for the best wishes! No worries if you for...Thanks for the best wishes! No worries if you forget - better to not be forgotten. :)<br /><br />Please do let me know if you'll be placing an order to the UK. Pooling resources is always a good idea.Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-63096582132224299542012-11-04T21:01:19.169-05:002012-11-04T21:01:19.169-05:00Hey Florin! I concur. When I used to go Coffee Bea...Hey Florin! I concur. When I used to go Coffee Bean back in college, I'd get the sugary chocolatey Ice Blendeds...because I wasn't a coffee drinker. Thus, a coffee product for non-coffee drinkers.<br /><br />I do have a whisky buddy who likes Lasanta quite a bit and I'm waiting for him to give me what-for for this writeup. I'd love to hear his take on it.<br /><br />I guess their Extra Matured malts taste rich, but so does Yamazaki 18 and THAT is elegant stuff. And twice or thrice the price. So taking into account the luxury-style marketing, perhaps they're selling the finished GlenMos as luxury for a low(er) price.<br /><br />While I can't help but be gustatorily intrigued with a lot of their "Private Edition" stuff, especially the Finealta and Artein, I'm pretty sure LVMH doesn't give a hoot about single malt drinkers as long as their products are selling. Ultimately, when the whisky bubble bursts, of their entire range, the The Original will be the last one standing. And then LVMH will sell the distillery once they can't sell the luxury.<br /><br />P.S. It's good to see someone else who digs JW Gold. I love that whisky.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-35241851044107030812012-11-04T20:35:55.885-05:002012-11-04T20:35:55.885-05:00I agree with both of you guys. The Signature is p...I agree with both of you guys. The Signature is pretty good, but the price is just goofy. I understand that it's a "small batch", but it's a William Grant & Sons "Small Batch", so how small can that be? Now, if they were to release it at cask strength......Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-15139939221048840522012-11-04T00:40:30.903-04:002012-11-04T00:40:30.903-04:00Eric, I'd definitely like to try Balvenie Sign...Eric, I'd definitely like to try Balvenie Signature, but the price is just too high for me to be willing to pull the trigger. I guess they don't want it to compete with Doublewood, but it's basically the same price as Caribbean Cask, which just seems silly.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-45484339767846163802012-11-03T18:31:43.885-04:002012-11-03T18:31:43.885-04:00Michael, that's a wonderful review, and I real...Michael, that's a wonderful review, and I really liked the bagel and cream cheese intro, how appropriate!<br />I totally concur with you on your main points, that a) sherriy cask whisky that's all sherry and no whisky gets tiring quickly; b) in Lasanta the sherry finish overwhelms the spirit; and c) the best sherry cask whiskies can be really good, but the good ones are far and in-between, with Glenfarclas 105 being maybe the most prominent example.<br /><br />Coming back to Lasanta, here's another metaphor for you. Get a cappuccino at your favorite Starbucks, and chances are it's very good. But have you tried one of their seasonal pumpkin caramel moccas, or toffee sea salt latte, or what have you? They are all the same: a complete assault on your mouth, cloyingly sweet, with all sorts of intense, unnatural flavors leading to gustatory overload and leaving you numb, spent, and begging for water.<br /><br />Well, Lasanta and the other finished Glenmos are not bad, but they are certainly very sweet, and feel manipulated and not well integrated, as you point out. I might as well take my regular whisky and add maple syrup and port wine.<br /><br />My guess is that Glenmorangie designed these finished whiskies to taste elegant and luxurious, and that they are mainly for non-whisky or non-single malt drinkers. They are, paradoxically, Glenmorangie's answer to Johnnie Walker, single malts trying to pass for a luxury blends. Unfortunately, they fall short of the amazing elegance of JW Gold, and of the substance and balance of JW Green. Just like Diageo doesn't care about the single malt drinker, Glenmorangie doesn't either!<br /><br />This being said, I like Lasanta better than Quinta Ruban and Nectar d'Or, it's closer to what whisky is expected to taste like. But on any day I'd rather just have the Original!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-77333499692773050362012-11-03T14:23:00.494-04:002012-11-03T14:23:00.494-04:00If you can't find an old bottle of Balvenie Fo...If you can't find an old bottle of Balvenie Founder's Reserve, get the Balvenie Signature. The Balvenie, um, signature is still notable even with the ex-sherry matured component.<br /><br />Now I see why Doublewood is only finished for a few months. The two years in Lasanta pretty much killed the Original's notes.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-37123185237615999592012-11-03T12:54:53.101-04:002012-11-03T12:54:53.101-04:00I was going to write about this during that week o...I was going to write about this during that week of blends (then discovered that it was its own subject). but I've discovered that most of my favorite whiskies are well-orchestrated blends of casks: Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, Mac 17 Fine Oak, Redbreast 12, Yamazaki 18, Longrow CV, etc. Even that Glengoyne 17 is a mix of sherry & bourbon casks.<br /><br />But it's clearly an art form because I've had a few that were just odd: Auchie Three Wood for example.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-6691850347186901172012-11-03T12:41:05.728-04:002012-11-03T12:41:05.728-04:00@JLR - Best wishes on your fast! When it's all...@JLR - Best wishes on your fast! When it's all done you'll appreciate whisky even more! I apologize ahead of time if I forget and invite you out to whisky things during the fast.<br /><br />That Longmorn was dreamy. HT appears to be out of it, but there's a bottle or two at Mega Liquor Warehouse in Hemet. :-/<br /><br />I have a sample of A'bunadh here that I have yet to try. I'll defer to Jordan's great write up on the sherry monsters. I do like the Glenfarclas quite a bit more than the Macallan. BTW, if you're looking for the Mac CS I know a couple local-ish places that have it at reasonable prices. Let me know...<br /><br />I also concur with Jordan about ordering GF105 via UK. I may be doing so in the new year, I'll let you know when in case you're still interested.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-2517446405420837942012-11-03T11:33:32.253-04:002012-11-03T11:33:32.253-04:00Josh, if you live in a state where you can get boo...Josh, if you live in a state where you can get booze shipped to you, Glenfarclas 105 is much, much cheaper when ordered from the UK (especially if you can justify an order of 4-6 bottles to keep the per unit shipping costs down).Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-77421047412337234982012-11-03T11:28:11.886-04:002012-11-03T11:28:11.886-04:00Josh, Aberlour Double Cask (either the old 43% ver...Josh, Aberlour Double Cask (either the old 43% version or the new 46% version), Balvenie Founder's Reserve (which I liked a lot more than cask-finished Doublewood) or Signature, a lot of Springbank's whiskies, Glenfiddich Distillery Edition... there are probably others, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-76263158152963944342012-11-03T02:03:56.589-04:002012-11-03T02:03:56.589-04:00"This comment has been removed by the author...."This comment has been removed by the author." That sounds drastic. I just couldn't find an edit button!Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-53961701992271916842012-11-03T02:03:00.367-04:002012-11-03T02:03:00.367-04:00Jordan, that was an excellent write-up! Of the thr...Jordan, that was an excellent write-up! Of the three, I've only had the Aberlour. The Macallan CS appears to be no longer available in my area. The 105 sounds incredible, but a local price-tag of $86 is probably going to keep me from buying a bottle, especially when A'bunadh is only $56. However, if I ever see it at a bar, I will definitely be ordering a dram.<br /><br />Michael, I realized all those "we"s in my original comment could be confusing. First paragraph references M and I, whereas the second paragraph references you and I. :)Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-22352418517950286582012-11-03T01:57:58.604-04:002012-11-03T01:57:58.604-04:00Jordan, do you have an example of a whisky that is...Jordan, do you have an example of a whisky that is a blend of the two casks?Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-8020445116355262422012-11-03T01:57:12.338-04:002012-11-03T01:57:12.338-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-13096465088339674742012-11-03T01:30:48.641-04:002012-11-03T01:30:48.641-04:00I'll need to try this one again before I can r...I'll need to try this one again before I can really make up my mind (might have to set aside an afternoon or two this weekend for that), but I'm starting to learn towards preferring whiskies that are a blend of bourbon-cask and sherry-cask whiskies, rather than finishes. The bourbon cask elements seem to get overwritten by cask finishes, but blending the two together gives you the best of both worlds.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-66590239347528368492012-11-03T01:27:16.832-04:002012-11-03T01:27:16.832-04:00Josh, if you want a comparison of the big Speyside...Josh, if you want a comparison of the big Speyside-sherry bombs, I wrote one up earlier this year:<br /><br />http://cocktailchem.blogspot.com/2012/01/whisky-review-cask-strength-shootout.htmlJordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-80638429229567348622012-11-03T00:03:14.859-04:002012-11-03T00:03:14.859-04:00Hmm, I am now looking forward to trying out my sam...Hmm, I am now looking forward to trying out my sample of the Lasanta. It will have to wait, as we're about to embark upon the Nativity fast, and we agreed to add alcohol to the fasting items (WHAT WAS I THINKING?!). Well, I suppose the enjoyment will be twice as sweet due to the wait. Or so I hope. <br /><br />I think we're pretty similar in our enjoyment level of sherry-aged whisky. I've not had the Glenfarclas 105, but I still daydream of the Longmorn-Glenlivet '67...*drools*...sorry! M's grandparents have been known to give out very generous Christmas gifts, and I'm thinking of putting it on this year's list. By the way, how do you like the Aberlour A'bunadh?Joshua Lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803870395593634466noreply@blogger.com