Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

 

If you're unfamiliar with Glenmorangie (a/k/a Glenmo), it is a Highland Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1843 and located in Tain, Ross-shire. Mothballed twice, first from 1931 to 1936 and then again from 1941 to 1944, Glenmo has the tallest stills in Scotland, nicknamed giraffes. Hard water, high in mineral content sourced from the local Tarlogie Springs, is used in distillation. The giraffe concept is so crucial to Glenmo that it pioneered a partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation to save these animals from becoming further endangered.

In 2021, I published my review of The Quinta Ruban 12 Years Old. Its timing was nice because that excellent discontinued expression was still readily available. It was replaced by The Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old, and that single malt is what I’m reviewing today.

“Dr. Bill, our Director of Whisky Creation, was born with a taste for adventure. And with this single malt, he sought to create a whisky as unpredictable as his travels.

Quinta Ruban is a whisky journey into the wild – a dark and delectable forest where the wind whistles with gusts of peppermint and dark swirls of chocolate can happen at any moment.” – Glenmorangie

Quinta Ruban starts its life as the flagship Glenmorangie Original 10 Years Old, which slept a decade in former Jack Daniel’s Bourbon (or Tennessee Whisky if you want to get technical) barrels. The magic happens because, from there, it spent an additional four years in former Ruby Port pipes. Port pipes are tapered wood casks. The ones Glenmorangie sourced came from the Quintas of Portugal. Quintas is Portuguese for wine estates. Ruban is the Gaelic term for ruby. Hence the name Quinta Ruban.

The Quinta Ruban 14 Years is non-chill filtered, naturally colored, and packaged at 46% ABV (92°). You can expect a 750ml bottle to cost around $55.00, and it enjoys wide availability. Glenmorangie also sells a four-pack taster set which is how I acquired my bottle.

Now, let’s #DrinkCurious and explore this Scotch in detail.

Appearance: I poured this whisky neat in my Glencairn glass. It was a clear, bright orange liquid that generated a medium rim. Slow, sticky droplets crawled back to the pool of liquid sunshine.

Nose: Smells of dark stone fruits, including cherries and plums, were evident before I picked up the glass. A bit of orange zest, apricot, dark chocolate, and malt were also released. When I inhaled through my lips, orange citrus rolled across my tongue.

Palate: The first sip greeted my mouth with a soft, silky texture. Leather, plum, and black cherry flavors were on the front. The middle featured dark chocolate, almond, and maple syrup, while the back tasted of tobacco leaf, oak, and orange citrus.

Finish: Cocoa powder, orange zest, oak, leather, and almond stuck around for a medium-to-long finish.

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I still have a bottle of Quinta Ruban 12 Years Old and felt it would be pertinent to try it side-by-side. That had a brighter, sweeter nose and palate, but the 14 Years Old was more profound and complex. They seemed related, but the two years definitely added character. While both are delicious, I would pick the 14 Years Old as superior. At $55.00 or so, I believe it is one hell of a bargain, and it has no problem walking away with a Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.