First time watching a review by Ralfy...gotta say I'll be watching more...thank you Ralfy I've watched many people review scotch your the most informative...great content I'm looking at my whisky in a new light...
I mixed Ardbeg 10 with Glenmorangie 18 and it was delicious! The Ardbeg brings a nice smokeyness and depth of flavor. I just added half a teaspoon of Ardbeg.
Ralfy: I strongly believe that your channel is grossly under-subscribed. For your detailed reviews and fun presentation, I think this channel should have millions of subscribers. Please keep the videos coming. Cheers!!!
My last day at work (which I've been at for 6 years) is tomorrow. They held an office party for me and bought me this exact bottle. I will cherish this bottle for years to come (or maybe keep it forever).
I bought this 18 yr old last year and was surprised by its heat. I prefer a softer whiskey and this expression hits the spot for me. I also love the 18 year old Talisker.
I find the Glenmorangie 10y is one of the easiest drinking entry level malts. I really enjoy the more intense flavor of the Quinta Ruban. I think I'll forgo this one at its price. Thanks Ralfy!
Had a couple of bottles lately. Great review, understated nose, but OMG, I'm getting such massive juicy fruit, stone fruit and background tropical, also stunning spice on the palate, it just keeps me coming back. Try the latest ones Ralfy, I reckon they've gotten better, don't know how though, with current demand?! Love your work ;-)
Soo excited for this review, bought a bottle this past spring, after having it at a whisky show, absolutely loved it! Also picked up a Tusail, loved it too, soo delicate and delicious!
I've been drinking malts for about 5 years now....so still at the beginning of the journey. Anyhoo - Glenmo 10 is lovely as a relaxing, uncomplicated and accessible supping malt. It's great for people who claim that they don't like whisky at all as it pretty much changes their minds.
Ralphie...one of my favorites...not extremely dynamic but enjoyable and easy for non-enthusiasts or newbies to enjoy. Enjoy your videos as I sit here in the Bavarian Alps surrounded by 400 some-odd bottles... 🥃🥃 🥃
Just received a bottle from my wife for Christmas. Last year she picked up the GM Signet. She must love their packaging. In between I asked her for the Edradour 12 year Caledonia for my birthday. Should be interesting to compare!!
Interesting review , Glenmorangie 18 it's a refresh Single malt just bought yesterday. Greetings from México to the isle of the brave and speed riders.
Thanks for all the aged alcohol reviews Ralfy! I'm not much of whiskey drinker, preferring my homebrew cider and armagnacs, but my father and my grandfather are huge fans, so your reviews give me good many ideas to get them for holidays and birthdays. Cheers!
Greetings from America, Ralfy! Any thoughts on Blair Athol? I noticed you haven't reviewed anything from that distillery yet. Also would you use JW Black Label or Compass Box GKS Artist's Blend as a warmup for older whiskies?
You gave the Qunita Ruban 89 Points in Comparison with these older Port Finish (also 89 i think) in review 440. Would you say that it is your favorite Glenmorangie, regarding official bottlings?
Wait .. 89 points for the Quinta Rubin? … That’s hard to believe. I like the Quinta Rubin, but you have to leave some room for really great whiskies. I can’t imagine Ralfy would give him 89 points nowadays.
Hi Ralfy, What do you make of Abrachan from Lidl? I think it's good value, why don't you look at the whisky/Bourbon from lidl/Aldi for the whisky fans on a budget?
I'm watching this and enjoying a bit 3 years after the review - I love it! Thanks Ralfy, gives me a little something to look forward to on a trip to Inverness next year!
Great Review Ralfy. Thank you for your increased focus on available and more affordable whisky. It is great when you throw a rare bottle in every now and again, but I get much more enjoyment out of your reviews when I have either already tried the whisky or can easily find and afford it if I want to.
Hi Ralfy, I'm just having a dram of SMWS Glen Moray 17 while watching, not blown away by it. How would you compare the Glenmorangie 18 vs Glenfiddich 18?
I, honestly, think the Glenmorangie 10 is quite good. Sure, it's easy drinking and nice for a beginner, but with water, time and love you can get some complexity out of it. Got 87 in my book. Anyway, it's nothing I buy a bottle of, but it's not too shabby, I'd say, good for a night out in a pub or whatnot
I have £100 to spend on a bottle of Whisky. What would you recommend...Or put it another way. What Whisky would you buy if you could only buy 1 more bottle...and only had £100. Cheers
hi ralfy, what do you think about nectar'dor? i think its a kinda under the radar gem... that and quinta ruban both beeing unchillfiltered and uncolored are pretty neat for such a big brand wouldnt u agree? kind regards
Jim Panse, I've been trying to mention Nectar D'Or every chance I get. I've even had to verify, but it's 12 years old, NCF, 46% and natural color. AND delicious. Somewhat overpriced, but recently in my location went from $70 to $60, not sale, just new price.
Ralfy, back 2-1/2 years ago in March 2014 Whisky Review 440, you had given both the recent & 1990's Glenmorangie Quinta Rubans 89 Malt Marks. In light of some your comments in this WR 609, do you feel that the mark for the recent GMQR might have changed since WR 440? However, in fairness if you had not tasted the GMQR since March 2014, it would be hard for you to give an opinion on my question. Slainte,
Ralphy in Mauritius it's much too expensive 5200r which is around 110£,i think I'll go for a litre of vat 69 which cost around 1300r... cheers Ralphy and thanks for your reviews.
Glenmorangie is also available as a 'teaspooned' malt from some IBs under the name Westport. Technically this makes it a blended malt but it's Glenmorangie for sure, with perhaps a glug of Glen Moray (now under new owners). I've had a bottle from the Whisky Broker web site previously, wasn't great to be honest.
The independent bottlers have acquired barrels from Glenmorangie but they cannot name the distillery. I've had a couple independent Glenmorangies from Exclusive Malts (they usually have North Highlands as the name) which were very good. A 14 year old "North Highland" was very much a woodier version of the Glenmorangie Original 10 year old.
Hi Ralfy, this is a very important video and I do get where you are coming from, but it is one of the few where I respectfully disagree, not with the overall gist of the message, but with the assessment of the quality of the whisky, which I still think is rather stunning in its balance. Obviously that is my personal opinion which is vastly inferior in experience to yours and I do take your nose and palate assessments on board, however I will have to revisit this dram again to try and understand where and why our judgements of the quality of this bottling are so contrasting. As always, many thanks for the great reviews.
You've given a 87 Malt mark to Johnny Walker black in one of your former reviews.. Yet you rate this 18 year old single Malt Glenmorangie at 84? Curious
Hello Magnificent Malty munchkins! I am a huge fan of Glenmorangie. Its always an easy, go to bottle. I often pick up the 10yo from a local whisky shop. Currently drinking a dram of Aberlour 10yo that was a birthday present from my mother 2 days ago :)
Looking forward to experiencing what this distillery has to offer but won't be pulling the trigger on this price range my first time out. Any recommendations for a beginners Glenmorangie I'm all ears anyone?
I am very happy to hear your opinion on the glenmorangie 18 yo. it really made me reconsider buying this whisky. I would also like to hear your opinion on the Balvenie 17 yo double cask if you get the chance to review it.
The words affordable and whisky spoken in the same breath where I live would denote blended scotches, lower end Canadian whiskies, entry-level bourbons and ryes, and easy-to-find Irish whiskeys produced in great quantity... Single malts start at around $50 and climb quickly to more than $100. If you want anything older than 15 years old, you have to look far and wide to find something for under $150. And then there's tax on top of tax. An $83.99 bottle of Royal Lochnagar 12 that I bought last night, which already has plenty of tax in the price, really cost $96.59 by the time I took it out the liquor store door... We don't get many independent bottlings either. I can remember seeing four or five on the shelf in the last two years... That's all. This is beginning to depress me. It's definitely time to pour a dram.
I think I may have mentioned in the past, I am a member of The Scotch Whisky Society I just want you to know it got sold on, less than a year ago, I just can't remember who owns it now. Great review again, just not Fan of, Glenmorangie or Glenfiddich. Whiskies.
Have you gotten ahold of any duty-free exclusives you'd recommend? I recently acquired Grants Elementary: Carbon which was nice, smokier than their usual stuff.
The Glen Grant 16 found in certain European travel retail shops is superb. Talisker Dark Storm is very very tasty. I would avoid however the Travel Retail exclusive Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley. Not good.
Hi Ralfy, Looking forward to you next review Sir. I don't believe you've reviewed laphroaig select? That might be an affordable recommendation as it's being sold in supermarkets for approx £25? Thanks!
In Alberta Canada our retailers have caught on to independent bottles as having a " potential " of being better. So in a entrepreneurial spirit they charge a premium over official bottles. Buggers!
I'm so on the fence with this whisky. It's been on my radar for ages but I can't quite pull the trigger. Some people adore this dram but I think I've always held that opinion that it's somewhat safe. I had a drop of the 10 recently for the first time in years and I enjoyed it. Nevertheless, any distillery that consistently bottles at low strength gets my goat.
Ralfy the glenmorangie original is back at 10 YO for two or 3 years now. I have bought one this year and it says TEN years. So there is empirical evidence to that. P.S. I think that box is a bit excessive. It's a real gift box. I'm very ok with tube and I don't think there should be any more packaging to whisky. bottle alone would be perfect imho.
Ralfy, any chance you could review Grant's Elementary series? They're blends but all come with an age statement, even despite young ages like 6 (Carbon) and 8 (Oxygen). And the Oxygen is a blended grain!
Greetings from Uruguay, Ralfy! That cardboard box would be suitable for storing my straight razors. That's another use I suggest. Another great review you just made. I can't get that whisky around here, but I'll try it sometime when I travel. Regards!
Has ralphy stopped reviewing non-age statements altogether? Curious to hear his opinion on the Laphroaig Lore, as it seems to be getting extremely mixed reviews.
84 is a low rate, even more for an 18 year old single malt that today costs more than €100. I have two Glenlivet 18 (older and newer version) for around €80 and a Glendronach 18 for €120. These are the only 18 year old I ever bought. It is quite a standard age and the next step after 15 year old bottles, but one must chose carefully nowadays. 15 year old appears to be the most reliable age.
With Christmas coming up I was wondering if you would do another vid about Hip flasks and other assorted gifts pertaining to Whisky lovers. I know you did one a few years ago,but i for one would't mind an update.
2020 and I have 3 back stock and one opened in the bar. I likewise miss the Glendronach Revival 15 being as readily available. Something told me I should stock up on those two.
As per your 610 review on affordable whiskies... Can't really beat the bunnahabhain 12 which is unchill-filtered, natural colour, 46.8% and is being sold for £28 at Waitrose as I'm writing this! And by the way Ralfy... bunnahabhain is pronounced boo-na-ha-vin... but who cares about that noise ;-) anCnoc 12 can be found for £27 at various online stores. The Glenfarclas 15 is being sold for £33 on Amazon UK right now. Old Pulteney 12 and Highland Park 12 can both be found for £24 at supermarkets or for £23 if you have Amazon Prime. Aberlour 10 £22, Aberlour 12 £25, Glenmorangie 10 £25, Glenfiddich 12 £25, all in Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose and Amazon. THIS IS the best time to buy whisky Cheers.
Bunnahabhain 12 is 46.3% abv which is, just like Ledaig/Tobermory and Deanston, the signature abv for Burn Stewart single malts. Burn Stewart do this, so they say, so as to reduce the cloudiness in their whisky without chill-filtration, (a good thing). Insisting on such a specific abv however has the benefit that their malts at 46.3 will be recognised as a Burn Stewart whisky in anonymous tasting comparisons where stating abv is compulsary. Regarding your choices for budget whiskies, I disagree somewhat. OK, anCnoc is a good quality choice throughout the range. Agree about Old Pulteney 12 is a fantastically complex whisky at any price but espcially when it is sold so cheaply. Aberlour 10 is I feel overrated. Boring Speyside.I noticed that the Laphroaig 10 seems to be going down in price. A must have. I used to recommend the Tomintoul 10 but rescent bottles have been pretty nasty. Glenmorangie Original 10 is sickly sweet. Horrible stuff. If you want to drink a orangy whisky liqueur then drink Drambuie. It's cheaper! I would recommend the Benromach Peat Smoke 46 abv, NCF, NC and 62 PPm at £36 is the best value for money at any price. Here is where I will annoy Ralfy....I seriously recommend the Glen Moray NAS Ex-Bourbon (not the chardonnay). Yes, it is NAS, yes it is chill filtered, yes it's minimum 40 abv, yes it problably has a bit of colouring in it but not much, but what a delicious whisky it is and so cheap! Tescos has it for £18. I drink some very expensive malts but thank G-d am not a snob because then I'd be missing out on the shear enjoyment of the tasting experience of this simply wonderful single malt. I can only wonder what a Glen Moray, bottled at 46 abv, NCF, NC and an age statement of 10-12 years would taste like!!!! Come on La Martiniquaise, take a risk and see if it sells.
Writing 46.8 instead of 46.3 is an automated correction typo. I wrote it with my phone and as phones often do it decided to change it to a previously saved “word” i.e - 46.8. As for “disagreeing”… I didn’t recommend those bottles. I mentioned them as being at a good price. My only recommendation was the bunnahabhain… I should have made that clearer so that’s a fault on my part. In fact, in a private message to Ralfy (the other week) I went on a rant against the Old Pulteney 12, Highland Park 12 and others saying that I will not buy them for a few years because the level keeps going down but realistically for the price you can find them they are simply better as cheap options. That makes them “ok” for the price… not a recommendation for being a good whisky. In fact, if you go to a recent review: “Glenfarclas 12” which was review 606, you will find that I went on a “pissed off hateful rant” against the Glenfarclas 15 which used to be one of my favourites and my recent experience with what snobs call that “expression” was extremely disappointing to say the least. As for personal taste… it’s all personal taste mate. My personal tasting notes of the standard 10Y.O Laphroaig goes for 4 A4 pages of just the smelling notes alone. Other people don’t like it at all. Ralfy likes the Balvenie which is the only whisky I ever tasted and simply didn’t like at all. Normally I’m actually a very “easy” customer because I like all kinds of whisky but whenever I’ve tried the Balvenie there was something in the background that made me want to puke after a few sips. Almost like an allergic reaction. So it’s all personal taste. None of it means anything. It’s all horseshit. I’ve worked in restaurants for many years, often with some extremely egotistical chefs who studied for years and years in different countries. I once had an “argument” about the combination of mushrooms and black pepper in a red sauce where the chef tried to explain to me why “these specific mushrooms” are the best combination. As he was saying that a kitchen worker came back from his lunch and in his plate he left out all the fancy mushrooms. When the chef asked why, the worker said: “because it’s so disgusting I’m afraid to even chew on it let alone swallow it. It was too perfect an order of circumstances to prove my point at the time and while you weren’t there it’s still a good allegory. It’s just all bullshit. Here too your recommendations couldn’t be more perfect to demonstrate how people sense things differently because the Glen Moray is by far one of my least favourite whiskies. Much of taste, aside from being personal is a product of environment. I grew up with extremely heavily cooked and seasoned food with extremely strong flavours. When I got married in Cyprus my wife and I went on a boat ride and I ordered a small glass of what the guy called “black mud coffee” and he took ages to warn me that this is really strong coffee. After I finished the first I ordered four more, each time his face went red as though he has seen a ghost. He even told me that he never saw anyone drinking more than one. Every morning I drink about half a litre of coffee that is probably ten times stronger than what he perceived as “the strongest coffee in the world”. My point is, in case it wasn’t clear… it’s all bullshit. Even having a well trained sophisticated palate is “meaningless” in the broader sense. Just a few days ago I was at the Royal Mile in London and was given several free tastes of the new James Eadie bottling of cask strength, single cask, natural colour, unchill-fitered series. Once I started sniffing the Caol Ila I mumbled out loud “this is different” because I found the “single caskness” to be somewhat more obtuse in the sense that it was complete and there was development but it was fairly colourless and one dimensional yet it still developed and prolonged it’s stay with each new change. Don’t get me wrong, it was fascinating, a very unique experience of a Caol Ila because the smoked fish was far more dominant but still, it was very “one dimensional” I suppose it’s juat a very well crafted and professionally presented “one dimensional experience. By the way, I don’t really mean that it was singular, it’s just an expression…. pun non-intended! You know what one of the guys told me? He said, and I’m quoting word for word: “well single cask doesn’t mean anything. You can’t taste it. It can be just about anything. That’s the point of single cask you never know what you’re getting”. What am I suppose to say to that? That I can distinguish between single cask and everything else in a millisecond? What good would that do. This example isn’t about proving that I have a more sophisticated palate and I can discern just fine between a single malt “blend” and true SC. No. The point is that it’s all horseshit. You can only enjoy and appreciate what you perceive to begin with. I’m colour blind. For me the sky is pink not light blue. Ever since I was a kid I’ve read stories about the “blue sky” and heard people talking about the “blue sky”. Guess what, after 35 years of being on this planet it’s still just as pink as it was when I was a kid no matter what people say. With regards to the bunnahabhain 12 and regardless of personal taste… I don’t know of any other whisky in the world that is natural colour, unchill-filtered, bottled at 46.3% and can be found for £28. In fact, since I wrote it someone sent me a personal message to tell me that it’s now £25. If there is even a competition to what you’re getting compared to what you’re paying then I haven’t heard about it or have seen it yet. I literally haven’t seen anything to offer competition that isn’t over £45 which realistically is almost double the price.
No, it is not all horse's dung. In almost all cases, if a distillery uses fresh malted barley, ensures an even mash and gets to know the optimum fermentation time for their wash and distillation process, then matures in the highest quality casks, bottles at higher stength with no chill filtering and no caramel colour, then they should objectively be producing a better quality, more flavoursome, more complex and more interesting single malt whisky. Not always but almost always. Distilleries such as Kilchoman, Springbank, Bendronach, Glencadam and BenRiach, to name a few, consistantly produce excellent whiskies because they have the skills, the resources and passion to do it right. You also see it clearly when a great distillery starts to lower its standards like Bruichladdich and Laphroaig for iexample. It's also true that, in my opinion, some non-craft, industrial minded distilleries manage to produce some excellent whisky expressions. Take Caol Ila 12 for instance, comes from the "evil empire" Diageo, bottled at 43%, chill filtered, coloured and not even matured on Islay for "peat" sake (pun intented), which is one of my all time favourite whiskies. Obviously, there is personal taste. I do not have a sweet tooth and would not personally drink them but apreciate that some Glendronachs and Glengoynes are quality drams. I also acknowledge that Springbank produces high quality whiskies and deserves to be the success it is but personally do not like its very unique and delicate character. Others love it and I can understand why.
I’m 2 minutes into the review and I can already tell how this is gonna go; let’s see if I’m right. He started out on the packaging, a subtle jab. We’ll see here 😎
Like ralfy says, not many care for Glenmorangie for their way of doing what they do. However, Glenmorangie is just different, they have a more floral and different style than the rest of the industry. But idk, I personally as a scotch lover won't buy this 18 yr old... I'll stick with the Quinta Ruban, I think that's the best version they have.... Seriously quinta ruban check it out!!
i am see this clip i am big fan of glenmorangie i have really everything what they ever have sold bud know the funny part of this i donth have the one from Glenmorangie 2005 SMWS 125.74 what you where saying in the video sadly only 1 cask was sold from glenmorangie to the scotch malt whisky society en only 244 bottels ever produced i am going to have a nightmare hunting that bottle i need it to compleet de colecktion i wil find it at any cost money is not that inportant hahaha
Hello Ralfy, I have a suggestion if I may, I have been following you for a year, I learn a lot about whisky but I am not extremely knowledgeable. What I'm trying to say is that it would be nice if you could share with us a list of good whiskys we aficionados could by ourselves for Christmas. Thank you for the great content, Have a nice one
Diageo likes to limit un-official bottles of their very popular and highly regarded, or overhyped distilleries. Diageo has something to do with the rarely of independent bottles of Glenmorangie. It is all about where the distilleries located in the portfolio.
It just my opinion. But, there are three major corporations with in LVMH. Christian Dior S.A., Groupe Arnault SAS and MHD and Arnault owns 90% of Dior. Diageo has the percentage of ownership of Moet et Chandon , Veuve Clicqot and Hennessy. I know Arnault holds near 50% of LVMH, Diageo near 35% and Louis Vuitton near 15%. I'm assuming Diageo has the drinks side of LVMH. They only know has the votes and who is getting kickbacks. None of these corporations are models of good clean business. One big corporate takeover. LVMH is a label.
when the review ends at 12 minutes into a 24 minute video I always know were in for a treat haha.
First time watching a review by Ralfy...gotta say I'll be watching more...thank you Ralfy I've watched many people review scotch your the most informative...great content I'm looking at my whisky in a new light...
I mixed Ardbeg 10 with Glenmorangie 18 and it was delicious! The Ardbeg brings a nice smokeyness and depth of flavor. I just added half a teaspoon of Ardbeg.
sounds good man, i love blanding my own whiskys
Great idea!
Amazing comment about consumer and quality. Always thought it, never could articulate it so simply. Thanks Ralfy
Ralfy: I strongly believe that your channel is grossly under-subscribed. For your detailed reviews and fun presentation, I think this channel should have millions of subscribers. Please keep the videos coming. Cheers!!!
My last day at work (which I've been at for 6 years) is tomorrow. They held an office party for me and bought me this exact bottle. I will cherish this bottle for years to come (or maybe keep it forever).
. . . it will always be there for when you need a wee dram !
I bought a bottle of this (3rd bottle total) to celebrate the birth of my son. Can't wait to open it, seriously like this. Thanks for the review!
I bought this 18 yr old last year and was surprised by its heat. I prefer a softer whiskey and this expression hits the spot for me. I also love the 18 year old Talisker.
Ralfy dear, you can use that big old box for your favorite tasty cigars! (-with an appropriate humectant, of course.)
I find the Glenmorangie 10y is one of the easiest drinking entry level malts. I really enjoy the more intense flavor of the Quinta Ruban. I think I'll forgo this one at its price. Thanks Ralfy!
Had a couple of bottles lately. Great review, understated nose, but OMG, I'm getting such massive juicy fruit, stone fruit and background tropical, also stunning spice on the palate, it just keeps me coming back. Try the latest ones Ralfy, I reckon they've gotten better, don't know how though, with current demand?!
Love your work ;-)
Soo excited for this review, bought a bottle this past spring, after having it at a whisky show, absolutely loved it! Also picked up a Tusail, loved it too, soo delicate and delicious!
I've been drinking malts for about 5 years now....so still at the beginning of the journey. Anyhoo - Glenmo 10 is lovely as a relaxing, uncomplicated and accessible supping malt. It's great for people who claim that they don't like whisky at all as it pretty much changes their minds.
Ralphie...one of my favorites...not extremely dynamic but enjoyable and easy for non-enthusiasts or newbies to enjoy. Enjoy your videos as I sit here in the Bavarian Alps surrounded by 400 some-odd bottles... 🥃🥃 🥃
Just received a bottle from my wife for Christmas. Last year she picked up the GM Signet. She must love their packaging. In between I asked her for the Edradour 12 year Caledonia for my birthday. Should be interesting to compare!!
Interesting review , Glenmorangie 18 it's a refresh Single malt just bought yesterday. Greetings from México to the isle of the brave and speed riders.
Thanks for all the aged alcohol reviews Ralfy! I'm not much of whiskey drinker, preferring my homebrew cider and armagnacs, but my father and my grandfather are huge fans, so your reviews give me good many ideas to get them for holidays and birthdays. Cheers!
Greetings from America, Ralfy!
Any thoughts on Blair Athol? I noticed you haven't reviewed anything from that distillery yet. Also would you use JW Black Label or Compass Box GKS Artist's Blend as a warmup for older whiskies?
You gave the Qunita Ruban 89 Points in Comparison with these older Port Finish (also 89 i think) in review 440. Would you say that it is your favorite Glenmorangie, regarding official bottlings?
Wait .. 89 points for the Quinta Rubin? … That’s hard to believe. I like the Quinta Rubin, but you have to leave some room for really great whiskies. I can’t imagine Ralfy would give him 89 points nowadays.
It’s 84, I just watched it to the end. That’s much more fitting.
Hi Ralfy,
What do you make of Abrachan from Lidl? I think it's good value, why don't you look at the whisky/Bourbon from lidl/Aldi for the whisky fans on a budget?
I'm watching this and enjoying a bit 3 years after the review - I love it! Thanks Ralfy, gives me a little something to look forward to on a trip to Inverness next year!
Excellent gift suggestion. Would you be at all interested in doing an extended list/review of affordable gift-able whiskies?
Hi Ralfy I try very hard to live as much of my life as possible in The Glen of Tranquility watching you helps on the journey 🤔🤔😎😎😇😇
Great Review Ralfy. Thank you for your increased focus on available and more affordable whisky. It is great when you throw a rare bottle in every now and again, but I get much more enjoyment out of your reviews when I have either already tried the whisky or can easily find and afford it if I want to.
Another insightful review with the usual sense of sharp malt-perspective. And that ending is worth a thousand words...
Ralfy, have you tried the 25 year old Glenfarclas? Do you think it's good value at £90? Please reply before the price goes back up! Many thanks.
Thanks for the review - ordered this one (was torn between getting the 18,19 and signet - will get the others at some point)
Hi Ralfy, I'm just having a dram of SMWS Glen Moray 17 while watching, not blown away by it. How would you compare the Glenmorangie 18 vs Glenfiddich 18?
I, honestly, think the Glenmorangie 10 is quite good. Sure, it's easy drinking and nice for a beginner, but with water, time and love you can get some complexity out of it. Got 87 in my book.
Anyway, it's nothing I buy a bottle of, but it's not too shabby, I'd say, good for a night out in a pub or whatnot
I have £100 to spend on a bottle of Whisky. What would you recommend...Or put it another way. What Whisky would you buy if you could only buy 1 more bottle...and only had £100. Cheers
Hi , Do you have a top 5 single malts ?
Really enjoy your reviews, such a passionate character and knowledgeable, thank you sir
hi ralfy,
what do you think about nectar'dor? i think its a kinda under the radar gem... that and quinta ruban both beeing unchillfiltered and uncolored are pretty neat for such a big brand wouldnt u agree? kind regards
Jim Panse, I've been trying to mention Nectar D'Or every chance I get. I've even had to verify, but it's 12 years old, NCF, 46% and natural color. AND delicious. Somewhat overpriced, but recently in my location went from $70 to $60, not sale, just new price.
Ralfy, back 2-1/2 years ago in March 2014 Whisky Review 440, you had given both the recent & 1990's Glenmorangie Quinta Rubans 89 Malt Marks. In light of some your comments in this WR 609, do you feel that the mark for the recent GMQR might have changed since WR 440? However, in fairness if you had not tasted the GMQR since March 2014, it would be hard for you to give an opinion on my question. Slainte,
I can't help myself not to smile every time at "Jazzmen tea", Ralfy)))
So is this a bottle that would be good to save for awhile? I am not sure if he was stating this distillery or this release does not age well.
Ralphy in Mauritius it's much too expensive 5200r which is around 110£,i think I'll go for a litre of vat 69 which cost around 1300r... cheers Ralphy and thanks for your reviews.
Glenmorangie is also available as a 'teaspooned' malt from some IBs under the name Westport. Technically this makes it a blended malt but it's Glenmorangie for sure, with perhaps a glug of Glen Moray (now under new owners). I've had a bottle from the Whisky Broker web site previously, wasn't great to be honest.
The independent bottlers have acquired barrels from Glenmorangie but they cannot name the distillery. I've had a couple independent Glenmorangies from Exclusive Malts (they usually have North Highlands as the name) which were very good. A 14 year old "North Highland" was very much a woodier version of the Glenmorangie Original 10 year old.
what a coincidence.......a friend of mine bought me a bottle of the Glenmorangie 10yr old a few days ago..........definitely recommend it.
Hi Ralfy, this is a very important video and I do get where you are coming from, but it is one of the few where I respectfully disagree, not with the overall gist of the message, but with the assessment of the quality of the whisky, which I still think is rather stunning in its balance.
Obviously that is my personal opinion which is vastly inferior in experience to yours and I do take your nose and palate assessments on board, however I will have to revisit this dram again to try and understand where and why our judgements of the quality of this bottling are so contrasting.
As always, many thanks for the great reviews.
Thoroughly enjoyed the details. A name goes along way and once it has a reputation.......
You've given a 87 Malt mark to Johnny Walker black in one of your former reviews.. Yet you rate this 18 year old single Malt Glenmorangie at 84? Curious
Blended vs single malt
He just has a bad day hehe
Hahah omg Ralfy you realy bad of understanding whisky then
Hello Magnificent Malty munchkins! I am a huge fan of Glenmorangie. Its always an easy, go to bottle. I often pick up the 10yo from a local whisky shop.
Currently drinking a dram of Aberlour 10yo that was a birthday present from my mother 2 days ago :)
Thank you for the review and especially for the insider knowledge of SMWS 125 :)
I've still got a glenmorangie port wood in opened and I've had it atleast ten years
Looking forward to experiencing what this distillery has to offer but won't be pulling the trigger on this price range my first time out. Any recommendations for a beginners Glenmorangie I'm all ears anyone?
Great ending line. Thanks for all the work you put into these reviews. Very much appreciated
WHAT IS MALTMENTION, MALTMATES, MALTY etc.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT FOR YEARS.
Bought an engraved bottle of this for my Dads 60th its expensive but it went down well with good feedback.
I am very happy to hear your opinion on the glenmorangie 18 yo. it really made me reconsider buying this whisky. I would also like to hear your opinion on the Balvenie 17 yo double cask if you get the chance to review it.
Martilk personally the Balvenie 17 yo double cask is my favorite
The words affordable and whisky spoken in the same breath where I live would denote blended scotches, lower end Canadian whiskies, entry-level bourbons and ryes, and easy-to-find Irish whiskeys produced in great quantity... Single malts start at around $50 and climb quickly to more than $100. If you want anything older than 15 years old, you have to look far and wide to find something for under $150. And then there's tax on top of tax. An $83.99 bottle of Royal Lochnagar 12 that I bought last night, which already has plenty of tax in the price, really cost $96.59 by the time I took it out the liquor store door... We don't get many independent bottlings either. I can remember seeing four or five on the shelf in the last two years... That's all. This is beginning to depress me. It's definitely time to pour a dram.
It's just as well whisky gives us so much pleasure because it's bleeding me dry even at U.K prices.
Finally :) been waiting for this review for ages!
I think I may have mentioned in the past, I am a member of The Scotch Whisky Society I just want you to know it got sold on, less than a year ago, I just can't remember who owns it now.
Great review again, just not Fan of, Glenmorangie or Glenfiddich. Whiskies.
Keep up the good work Ralfy.
Have you gotten ahold of any duty-free exclusives you'd recommend? I recently acquired Grants Elementary: Carbon which was nice, smokier than their usual stuff.
The Glen Grant 16 found in certain European travel retail shops is superb. Talisker Dark Storm is very very tasty. I would avoid however the Travel Retail exclusive Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley. Not good.
I will be inspecting duty free tomorrow as I fly to Ireland for the weekend. I'll check out Dark Storm, for sure! Thanks!
Hi Ralfy, Looking forward to you next review Sir.
I don't believe you've reviewed laphroaig select? That might be an affordable recommendation as it's being sold in supermarkets for approx £25? Thanks!
1stJJ He does not review non age statement whiskies. Generally, Select gets bad reviews by whisky enthusiasts, haven't tried it myself though
Fabulous review as always. Current price of 18yo "Extremely Rare" in finland is 110€. Perhaps not going for this product.
Just got this bottle and it beat my favorite out which is macallan 18 year. So delicious
In Alberta Canada our retailers have caught on to independent bottles as having a " potential " of being better. So in a entrepreneurial spirit they charge a premium over official bottles. Buggers!
I'm so on the fence with this whisky. It's been on my radar for ages but I can't quite pull the trigger. Some people adore this dram but I think I've always held that opinion that it's somewhat safe. I had a drop of the 10 recently for the first time in years and I enjoyed it. Nevertheless, any distillery that consistently bottles at low strength gets my goat.
Ralfy the glenmorangie original is back at 10 YO for two or 3 years now. I have bought one this year and it says TEN years. So there is empirical evidence to that.
P.S. I think that box is a bit excessive. It's a real gift box. I'm very ok with tube and I don't think there should be any more packaging to whisky. bottle alone would be perfect imho.
Thanks Ralfy. For another great review!
Ralfy, any chance you could review Grant's Elementary series? They're blends but all come with an age statement, even despite young ages like 6 (Carbon) and 8 (Oxygen). And the Oxygen is a blended grain!
Greetings from Uruguay, Ralfy! That cardboard box would be suitable for storing my straight razors. That's another use I suggest. Another great review you just made. I can't get that whisky around here, but I'll try it sometime when I travel. Regards!
Has ralphy stopped reviewing non-age statements altogether? Curious to hear his opinion on the Laphroaig Lore, as it seems to be getting extremely mixed reviews.
84 is a low rate, even more for an 18 year old single malt that today costs more than €100. I have two Glenlivet 18 (older and newer version) for around €80 and a Glendronach 18 for €120. These are the only 18 year old I ever bought. It is quite a standard age and the next step after 15 year old bottles, but one must chose carefully nowadays. 15 year old appears to be the most reliable age.
Great video! I just found your channel by accident. Subbed!
With Christmas coming up I was wondering if you would do another vid about Hip flasks and other assorted gifts pertaining to Whisky lovers. I know you did one a few years ago,but i for one would't mind an update.
While I liked the 18 year old, the Glenmorangie Astar remains my favorite of the line. It's just too bad that one got discontinued.
2020 and I have 3 back stock and one opened in the bar. I likewise miss the Glendronach Revival 15 being as readily available. Something told me I should stock up on those two.
As per your 610 review on affordable whiskies...
Can't really beat the bunnahabhain 12 which is unchill-filtered, natural colour, 46.8% and is being sold for £28 at Waitrose as I'm writing this!
And by the way Ralfy... bunnahabhain is pronounced boo-na-ha-vin... but who cares about that noise ;-)
anCnoc 12 can be found for £27 at various online stores.
The Glenfarclas 15 is being sold for £33 on Amazon UK right now.
Old Pulteney 12 and Highland Park 12 can both be found for £24 at supermarkets or for £23 if you have Amazon Prime.
Aberlour 10 £22, Aberlour 12 £25, Glenmorangie 10 £25, Glenfiddich 12 £25, all in Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose and Amazon.
THIS IS the best time to buy whisky
Cheers.
. . . good choice !
Bunnahabhain 12 is 46.3% abv which is, just like Ledaig/Tobermory and Deanston, the signature abv for Burn Stewart single malts. Burn Stewart do this, so they say, so as to reduce the cloudiness in their whisky without chill-filtration, (a good thing). Insisting on such a specific abv however has the benefit that their malts at 46.3 will be recognised as a Burn Stewart whisky in anonymous tasting comparisons where stating abv is compulsary.
Regarding your choices for budget whiskies, I disagree somewhat.
OK, anCnoc is a good quality choice throughout the range.
Agree about Old Pulteney 12 is a fantastically complex whisky at any price but espcially when it is sold so cheaply.
Aberlour 10 is I feel overrated. Boring Speyside.I noticed that the Laphroaig 10 seems to be going down in price. A must have.
I used to recommend the Tomintoul 10 but rescent bottles have been pretty nasty.
Glenmorangie Original 10 is sickly sweet. Horrible stuff. If you want to drink a orangy whisky liqueur then drink Drambuie. It's cheaper!
I would recommend the Benromach Peat Smoke 46 abv, NCF, NC and 62 PPm at £36 is the best value for money at any price.
Here is where I will annoy Ralfy....I seriously recommend the Glen Moray NAS Ex-Bourbon (not the chardonnay). Yes, it is NAS, yes it is chill filtered, yes it's minimum 40 abv, yes it problably has a bit of colouring in it but not much, but what a delicious whisky it is and so cheap! Tescos has it for £18. I drink some very expensive malts but thank G-d am not a snob because then I'd be missing out on the shear enjoyment of the tasting experience of this simply wonderful single malt. I can only wonder what a Glen Moray, bottled at 46 abv, NCF, NC and an age statement of 10-12 years would taste like!!!! Come on La Martiniquaise, take a risk and see if it sells.
Writing 46.8 instead of 46.3 is an automated correction typo. I wrote it with my phone and as phones often do it decided to change it to a previously saved “word” i.e - 46.8.
As for “disagreeing”…
I didn’t recommend those bottles. I mentioned them as being at a good price.
My only recommendation was the bunnahabhain… I should have made that clearer so that’s a fault on my part.
In fact, in a private message to Ralfy (the other week) I went on a rant against the Old Pulteney 12, Highland Park 12 and others saying that I will not buy them for a few years because the level keeps going down but realistically for the price you can find them they are simply better as cheap options.
That makes them “ok” for the price… not a recommendation for being a good whisky.
In fact, if you go to a recent review: “Glenfarclas 12” which was review 606, you will find that I went on a “pissed off hateful rant” against the Glenfarclas 15 which used to be one of my favourites and my recent experience with what snobs call that “expression” was extremely disappointing to say the least.
As for personal taste… it’s all personal taste mate.
My personal tasting notes of the standard 10Y.O Laphroaig goes for 4 A4 pages of just the smelling notes alone. Other people don’t like it at all.
Ralfy likes the Balvenie which is the only whisky I ever tasted and simply didn’t like at all. Normally I’m actually a very “easy” customer because I like all kinds of whisky but whenever I’ve tried the Balvenie there was something in the background that made me want to puke after a few sips. Almost like an allergic reaction.
So it’s all personal taste.
None of it means anything. It’s all horseshit.
I’ve worked in restaurants for many years, often with some extremely egotistical chefs who studied for years and years in different countries. I once had an “argument” about the combination of mushrooms and black pepper in a red sauce where the chef tried to explain to me why “these specific mushrooms” are the best combination. As he was saying that a kitchen worker came back from his lunch and in his plate he left out all the fancy mushrooms. When the chef asked why, the worker said: “because it’s so disgusting I’m afraid to even chew on it let alone swallow it.
It was too perfect an order of circumstances to prove my point at the time and while you weren’t there it’s still a good allegory. It’s just all bullshit.
Here too your recommendations couldn’t be more perfect to demonstrate how people sense things differently because the Glen Moray is by far one of my least favourite whiskies.
Much of taste, aside from being personal is a product of environment.
I grew up with extremely heavily cooked and seasoned food with extremely strong flavours.
When I got married in Cyprus my wife and I went on a boat ride and I ordered a small glass of what the guy called “black mud coffee” and he took ages to warn me that this is really strong coffee. After I finished the first I ordered four more, each time his face went red as though he has seen a ghost. He even told me that he never saw anyone drinking more than one.
Every morning I drink about half a litre of coffee that is probably ten times stronger than what he perceived as “the strongest coffee in the world”.
My point is, in case it wasn’t clear… it’s all bullshit.
Even having a well trained sophisticated palate is “meaningless” in the broader sense.
Just a few days ago I was at the Royal Mile in London and was given several free tastes of the new James Eadie bottling of cask strength, single cask, natural colour, unchill-fitered series. Once I started sniffing the Caol Ila I mumbled out loud “this is different” because I found the “single caskness” to be somewhat more obtuse in the sense that it was complete and there was development but it was fairly colourless and one dimensional yet it still developed and prolonged it’s stay with each new change.
Don’t get me wrong, it was fascinating, a very unique experience of a Caol Ila because the smoked fish was far more dominant but still, it was very “one dimensional” I suppose it’s juat a very well crafted and professionally presented “one dimensional experience. By the way, I don’t really mean that it was singular, it’s just an expression…. pun non-intended!
You know what one of the guys told me?
He said, and I’m quoting word for word: “well single cask doesn’t mean anything. You can’t taste it. It can be just about anything. That’s the point of single cask you never know what you’re getting”.
What am I suppose to say to that?
That I can distinguish between single cask and everything else in a millisecond?
What good would that do.
This example isn’t about proving that I have a more sophisticated palate and I can discern just fine between a single malt “blend” and true SC.
No.
The point is that it’s all horseshit.
You can only enjoy and appreciate what you perceive to begin with.
I’m colour blind. For me the sky is pink not light blue. Ever since I was a kid I’ve read stories about the “blue sky” and heard people talking about the “blue sky”. Guess what, after 35 years of being on this planet it’s still just as pink as it was when I was a kid no matter what people say.
With regards to the bunnahabhain 12 and regardless of personal taste… I don’t know of any other whisky in the world that is natural colour, unchill-filtered, bottled at 46.3% and can be found for £28. In fact, since I wrote it someone sent me a personal message to tell me that it’s now £25.
If there is even a competition to what you’re getting compared to what you’re paying then I haven’t heard about it or have seen it yet.
I literally haven’t seen anything to offer competition that isn’t over £45 which realistically is almost double the price.
No, it is not all horse's dung. In almost all cases, if a distillery uses fresh malted barley, ensures an even mash and gets to know the optimum fermentation time for their wash and distillation process, then matures in the highest quality casks, bottles at higher stength with no chill filtering and no caramel colour, then they should objectively be producing a better quality, more flavoursome, more complex and more interesting single malt whisky. Not always but almost always. Distilleries such as Kilchoman, Springbank, Bendronach, Glencadam and BenRiach, to name a few, consistantly produce excellent whiskies because they have the skills, the resources and passion to do it right.
You also see it clearly when a great distillery starts to lower its standards like Bruichladdich and Laphroaig for iexample. It's also true that, in my opinion, some non-craft, industrial minded distilleries manage to produce some excellent whisky expressions. Take Caol Ila 12 for instance, comes from the "evil empire" Diageo, bottled at 43%, chill filtered, coloured and not even matured on Islay for "peat" sake (pun intented), which is one of my all time favourite whiskies.
Obviously, there is personal taste. I do not have a sweet tooth and would not personally drink them but apreciate that some Glendronachs and Glengoynes are quality drams. I also acknowledge that Springbank produces high quality whiskies and deserves to be the success it is but personally do not like its very unique and delicate character. Others love it and I can understand why.
these whiskies are much cheaper in UK than in Mauritius all good single malts.
Ralfy. . .our "Little Malt Helper."
Oh, that’s a low malt mark for a really good whisky.
Yeah, if signet can be 46% unchill filtered, why not 18yo and 25yo!!
They chill filter the new 12yo lasanta also D: WTH
Are there any Ralfy video where we actually get to have a look around the bothy?
Sambuccashake I wish, but Ralfy doesn't seem to be into cinematography. who knows what kind of mess he's got the place in ;)
I hope Santa is listening...she is..thanks again for your review
Glenmorangie is famous for the tallest gin stills...oops, I mean tallest whisky stills in Scotland. Glenmorangie 18 costs $120 where I live.
I’m 2 minutes into the review and I can already tell how this is gonna go; let’s see if I’m right. He started out on the packaging, a subtle jab. We’ll see here 😎
Like ralfy says, not many care for Glenmorangie for their way of doing what they do. However, Glenmorangie is just different, they have a more floral and different style than the rest of the industry. But idk, I personally as a scotch lover won't buy this 18 yr old... I'll stick with the Quinta Ruban, I think that's the best version they have.... Seriously quinta ruban check it out!!
i am see this clip i am big fan of glenmorangie i have really everything what they ever have sold bud know the funny part of this i donth have the one from Glenmorangie 2005 SMWS 125.74 what you where saying in the video sadly only 1 cask was sold from glenmorangie to the scotch malt whisky society en only 244 bottels ever produced i am going to have a nightmare hunting that bottle i need it to compleet de colecktion i wil find it at any cost money is not that inportant hahaha
His setup reminds me of the merchant from Resident Evil 4
would you review whiskey cask aged in dark shoju.
I like the 10Y a lot.
Tapestry threads. That's what I'd use the box for. :)
Why the bad quality video lately?
'With a hint of Iron-Bru in the background' ;)
Hello Ralfy, I have a suggestion if I may, I have been following you for a year, I learn a lot about whisky but I am not extremely knowledgeable. What I'm trying to say is that it would be nice if you could share with us a list of good whiskys we aficionados could by ourselves for Christmas.
Thank you for the great content, Have a nice one
If you watched the video... that's exactly what he said he'll do next week -_-'
Cypeq I posted before I watched the hole thing . my bad sorry.
Go to a mirror, and slap yourself. ;-)
Ralfy is #truth. Excellent video.
He didn’t like it. “Here are a few versions I find exciting.”
Diageo likes to limit un-official bottles of their very popular and highly regarded, or overhyped distilleries. Diageo has something to do with the rarely of independent bottles of Glenmorangie. It is all about where the distilleries located in the portfolio.
eric gilbert Glenmorangie is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennesey, not Diageo, but you're probably correct anyhow :)
Diageo own a significant, though minority, share of Glenmo. Not sure what, if any, this has on anything!
It just my opinion. But, there are three major corporations with in LVMH. Christian Dior S.A., Groupe Arnault SAS and MHD and Arnault owns 90% of Dior. Diageo has the percentage of ownership of Moet et Chandon , Veuve Clicqot and Hennessy. I know Arnault holds near 50% of LVMH, Diageo near 35% and Louis Vuitton near 15%. I'm assuming Diageo has the drinks side of LVMH. They only know has the votes and who is getting kickbacks. None of these corporations are models of good clean business. One big corporate takeover. LVMH is a label.
I'm ready!!
@ralfystuff have you ever thought of seriously reviewing well made beers? maybe a good change of pace.
Spotted at a local place today, $110 US
I'm not a fan of Glenmorangie. I find it to be too acidic. Great flavor otherwise.
I'm not ready! Noooooo!
Bought this today and the workers kept staring at me and opened the bottle to see it after purchasing it 😂
whisky is not scottish no 1 choice of liquor? ok something new to me
ralfy
plz jura 21 next 2 next......
24:27 Has this change much? hahaha
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