Glenmorangie 12 Year (1993) Single Cask “Swamp Oak”

Review by: The Muskox

This was the last dram in our Glenmorangie tasting, and it’s a doozy. Swamp oak is Quercus bicolor, a species of white oak native to low-lying forests of the central US. This whisky was originally bottled for the US market, but the entire shipment was somehow lost (I’m sure some of you reading can relate) before eventually being recovered and returned to Glenmorangie. I have no idea how we procured a bottle for this tasting, but I’m glad that we did.

Distillery: Glenmorangie.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Highlands.

ABV: 55.7%. Cask Strength.

Age: 12 Years. Distilled May 10th 1993. Bottled September 7th 2005.

Cask type: Cask #1946, a “swamp oak” cask.

Price: N/A, tasting sample.

Color: Amber. Natural Color. Non-Chill Filtered.

Nose: Well that’s different. Huge charred oak, almost to mesquite-smoke and burnt-popcorn levels. There’s a weird savouriness – my cohost at the tasting came up with venison jerky and flamed trout skin notes in here, which completely nails it for me. There’s burnt sugar, overbrewed Earl Grey, cloves, star anise, and black cherry syrup. An acidic note of grilled lemons. A hint of something malty in the distance.

Palate: Medium texture. Arrives dark and woody, with burnt sugar, flamethrowered Black Forest cake, and flamed orange peel. Savoury on the development, with applewood smoke, burning oak, charred marshmallows, and chocolate fudge. Allspice and vanilla beans as well. That buttercream character emerges after a little while. A grilled pineapple note emerges unexpectedly after a little while, which is then buried under brown sugar and cocoa powder.

Finish: Medium-length and rich. Rich amber maple syrup, some slightly acrid woodsmoke, and dark chocolate. Beef jerky and a bit of a lapsang souchong note too. Lingering worn cowboy leather and chocolate orange.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Skunk Ape’s secret forest still”

Conclusion: This was the runaway winner of the tasting, and is nothing like any Glenmorangie I’ve ever tried. The comparisons that people were throwing out during the tasting were to hot-climate malts like Amrut, Kavalan, and Balcones. This has a bizarre smokiness and savouriness though, which I’ve never encountered from those distilleries, barring the use of peat. But it’s not just bizarre, it’s bizarre and tasty.

If you’re a Glenmorangie superfan and you’ve tried every normal bottling they have, try tracking down one of these.

Final Score: 85.

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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