I’m not entirely sure how gracefully elegant a 58.1% whisky will be, especially not as a first dram, but let’s give it a go.

It’s been a while since I had an SMWS bottling, and I didn’t doubt long to get a sample of this. It’s few and far between that I get to see a Glenmorangie from an independent bottler. And it being from a sherry cask, at full strength only heightens my anticipation!

The initial cask was a 2nd fill bourbon cask, before being transferred to a 1st fill PX barrique. According to notes by the SMWS the finish was for two years, so not something overly rushed. Quite promising!

Sniff:
The nose is very rich with this filling the room with a fruity, cake like scent after a few minutes. Upon closer examination there are some interesting, one might say weird, scents of barbecue sauce. There’s dry barley and a whiff of oak too. Quite strong, to no one’s surprise. Lots of complexity with spices, fruit and wood influences.

Sip:
The initial arrival is insanely strong. Even for a first whisky at cask strength. If you’d have told me this was 65% I’d have believed you.

It starts with warm tropical fruit like mango and papaya. Quite rich with some baking spices. Lots of oak, massively fruity. A hint of tomato, or maybe ketchup. I guess that’s the barbecue sauce thing from before.

Swallow:
The finish still is a little hot, but less so. A bit charcoal like, but without the smoke. The fruit is a bit less present than on the nose and the palate, and there’s a bit more focus on the wood and the barley, with a hint of vanilla. Quite long, and a bit dry.

Well, this is quite a lot better than I hoped for. The fruit is great on both the palate and nose. I like that in the finish there’s some more focus on the typical Glenmorangie notes. An absolutely gorgeous whisky.

90/100

Glenmorangie 15, 2005-2020, 1st Fill Ex-PX Hogshead finish, cask 125.77 ‘Graceful Elegance’, 58.1%, SMWS.