Glenmorangie The Original 12-Year Single Malt Scotch Review

 

When folks come to me and ask, “I’m interested in Scotch, but I don’t know where to start. What do you recommend?” I usually steer them to Glenfiddich or The Glenmorangie. Why? Because they’re easy to find, highly affordable, and offer the new and curious little to dislike. They’re not only great starter whiskies; they’re ones you can keep enjoying no matter how experienced your palate is.

 

The Glenmorangie comes from Scotland’s Highland region, whereas Glenfiddich comes from Speyside. Considering Speyside gained autonomy from the Highland region in 2009, the two areas aren’t far off. The Glenmorangie tends to be a sweeter whisky, which is often palatable to newbies.

 

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. The distillery was mothballed twice, from 1931 to 1936 and 1941 to 1944. Glenmo, along with its sister distillery Ardbeg, has been owned by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) since 2004.

 

Glenmo boasts the tallest stills in Scotland. It calls them giraffe stills. On a side note, the distillery supports the Giraffe Conservation Fund, which is meant to help save the species. Glenmo sources its hard water, which is high in mineral content, from the local Tarlogie Springs for the distillation process.

 

Glenmo’s core of its core single malts (yes, I meant to say that twice) is Glenmorangie The Original. It is the base whisky of nearly everything else it produces (which is why I called it the core of the core). Until 2024, The Original carried a 10-year age statement. That’s been upped to a dozen years. Maturation took place in ex-Bourbon casks, and it’s quite affordable at about $46.00 for a 750ml bottle, packaged at 43% ABV (86°).

 

I reviewed The Original 10 a couple of years ago, and my verdict was:

“Glenmorangie The Original is a delightful, easy-sipping whisky that can please nearly everyone. You won’t find peat; you won’t run into ‘band-aid’ tastes; you won’t encounter anything marine-like. It is all about flavors that are sweet and fruity. When you factor in the price, Glenmorangie The Original meets every punch mark for a Bottle rating.”

 

I’m ready to #DrinkCurious and discover how the additional time in oak impacted an already lovely whisky. First, I must thank Glenmorangie for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Single Malt Scotch
• Distiller: The Glenmorangie
• Age: 12 years
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage: Former Bourbon barrels
• Alcohol Content: 43% ABV (86°)
• Price per 750mL: $46.00

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Scotch neat. The brilliant gold color seemed inviting, and the liquid created a medium-thin rim with tightly packed, fast tears. However, some gluey droplets remained on the rim for several minutes.

 

Nose: While I was waiting for the whisky to acclimate, the air in my whiskey library smelled of fresh peaches, which made it challenging to hold off my normal 15 minutes. Once that period passed, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled, and I encountered notes of fresh peaches, vanilla, honey, pineapples, orange peel, and toffee. As I drew the vapor through my lips, I found honeyblossom.

 

Palate: The creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel introduced me to vanilla and oak tannins. With my second sip, I tasted vanilla, honey, and dried apricots on the front, with stewed peaches, toasted coconut, and orange zest on my mid-palate. The back included milk chocolate, oak, and ginger spice.

 

Finish: Nutmeg, pecans, almonds, orange peel, ginger, oak, clove, and cocoa created a mostly spicy, long-lasting finish. It had a slow build-up, eventually hitting a crescendo at 1:16, then slowly (very slowly) fading until it disappeared at 1:52, which I’d classify as a long duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: We occasionally ponder what whiskies might taste like with a bit more time in oak. Well, Glenmorangie has shown us. I truly enjoyed the 10-year expression, and adding two more years gave it so much depth! It had a slightly heavier mouthfeel, and the spice notes, while late, were emboldened, especially on the finish.

 

All I could do was smile while I sipped The Original 12 Year, which obviously caught Mrs. Whiskeyfellow’s attention as she asked what I was drinking.

 

Two years added another $3.00 to the price, which I found inconsequential. Even the 10-year would still be a bargain. I have nothing remotely negative to point out; Glenmorangie has another winner! My Bottle rating is a slam-dunk. 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 to do so responsibly.