Glenmorangie Bacalta Whisky

Admittedly we are late to the party here, but what a discovery- Glenmorangie and its Private Edition Whisky. This one is the eighth annual edition named Bacalta Scots Gaelic for ‘baked’ and finished entirely in sun-baked Malmsey Madeira casks.

glenmorangie_bacalta

The inspiration for this limited edition first began more than 20 years ago, with the release of Glenmorangie Madeira Finish, the world’s first whisky extra-matured in Madeira casks. Created by Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks- who arranged for bespoke American oak casks to be created and heavily toasted. The casks were then seasoned by Malmsey wine- the sweetest and most prized of the Madeira wines- and baked to maturity within as the casks lay in the heat of Madeira’s sun. They are then emptied, shipped to Scotland and filled with specially selected spirit- already matured in ex-bourbon barrels- the Malmsey casks lend complex layers of sweetness to Glenmorangie Bacalta.

Tasting Notes

  • Colour: Light gold.
  • Nose: Fragrant, honeyed and sweet. Some ripe apricots, mead-like, and a curious minerally/flinty note, followed by some sweet white chocolate. A little water brings out a classic ‘rancio’/aged Balsamic tone, with a suggestion of baked bread, malty/biscuit notes, meadow flowers and some peach crumble.
  • Taste: An initial burst of mint toffee, with baked fruits such as caramelised oranges and apricots, lots of honeycomb, almonds and dates… Milk chocolate, marzipan, white pepper and ripe, juicy honeydew melon.
  • Finish: A rich, syrupy aftertaste, with more caramelised citrus and pears, some creamy fudge, but always an intriguing mentholic/eucalyptus sensation in the background.

Bottled at 46% ABV, and non-chill filtered for extra body and texture, Glenmorangie Bacalta is available priced £79 from THE WHISKY EXCHANGE.