Glenmorangie 16 Year (2005) Single Cask Nation “Westport”

Review by: The Muskox

As ubiquitous as Glenmorangie is, it’s vanishingly rare as an independent bottling. I’m happy to have been granted the opportunity to try this one. As is usually the case with indie Glenmorangies, it’s bottled under the name “Westport” to (poorly) disguise its identity, like Clark Kent wearing glasses.

Distillery: Glenmorangie.

Bottler: Single Cask Nation.

Region: Highlands.

ABV: 50.6%, cask strength.

Age: 16 years old. Distilled in March 2005. Bottled in May 2021.

Cask type: Cask #2112, a 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butt.

Color: Deep gold. No colour added, un-chillfiltered.

Nose: Light and sweet, with mild sherry. Butterscotch, malt, and sweetened condensed milk. Soft spice notes of cinnamon and subtler nutmeg. Plums, orange slices, and lightly bruised banana. A tiny hint of something sulfury, or is that just rancio? I checked u/zSolaris’s notes on this whisky after writing mine, and did find a bit of that beeswax that he mentioned.

Palate: Medium texture. Rich buttery-toasty, with various jam-filled cookies and shortbreads on the arrival. More of the fruits from the nose, honey, soft sandalwood, and Earl Grey tea with milk. Woodier here than on the palate, with a pleasant oak bitterness and some well-worn leather armchairs. Even a slight earthiness pops in.

Finish: Medium-length. Fresh plums and cooked strawberries. Soft woody spice, earth, and a hint of black pepper. Lingering sticky golden syrup.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Is it pronounced ‘scones’ or ‘scones’?”

Notes: It’s soft and gentle, to the point where I initially found it rather boring, but it grew on me as I sipped. The milky notes and soft fruits are quite lovely, and I like the change of pace on the rather earthier and darker finish. In terms of the OB Glenmorangies, I don’t think this is better than the OG Nectar d’Or (the 12yo, not the modern NAS). Of My friends that have tried this whisky, u/Herr_Maltenberg loved it, and u/zSolaris really didn’t. I think I’m somewhere in the middle.

Final Score: 83.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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