Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish

This barrel select Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish is unlike most of the finished whiskies Glenmo puts out because it didn’t start life as the traditional Glenmo 10. Shocking I know, but this whisky only spent 8 years in ex-Bourbon casks before being transferred to ex-Cognac casks to finish it’s maturation. But not just any ex-Cognac casks, well worn ex-Cognac casks.

Dr. Bill didn’t want the cognac to overshadow the Glenmo spirit so he used ex-Cognac casks that had been used multiple times before to age whisky so they’d have less of a dominant influence. Though we all know that too much use and the casks give very little. So where did this land? Only one way to find out.

Let’s get to drinkin’

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Natural Color

Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: Glenmorangie

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Cognac
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 46%

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Price: $87

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie Malaga 12 Years
Glenmorangie Cadbol Estate 15 Years
Glenmorangie Lasanta 12
Glenmorangie Nectar D’ Or 12
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Glenmorangie’s head of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden had experimented with Cognac casks before, but found they would overshadow the spirit’s character. For this expression, however, Dr. Bill used Cognac casks that had been filled several times, resulting in a more subtle wood influence on the whisky.” – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Waxy vanilla, nutty malt, graham, cocoa, baking spice and a touch of bubblegum and raisins.

Not very deep, but what’s there is warm and inviting.

PALATE
Cognac, cinnamon-heavy baking spice, malty graham, nuts, cocoa, raisiny fruit and a touch of bubblegum.

Richer than the aroma, but feels rather dead mid-palate, like it’s missing something.

FINISH
Medium -> Raisiny fruit and graham fade to baking spice.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft easy feel.

Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish – Overall Thoughts and Score

There is nothing to dislike about it, but it feels a bit off, a bit not right, a bit incomplete. I don’t know how better to describe the oddness that is this whisky except that it doesn’t feel done. I also don’t get much of a cognac note, it seems like maybe the casks were a bit too tired, a bit too used to impart so little character after spending nearly 5 years in them.

I’m incredibly happy to have tried this Glenmorangie 13 Years Cognac Finish, I’ve been very curious about a cognac finished Glenmo and while this is the only one I’ve had so far, I’m not convinced they’re a good match. But then again, they did purposely use tired casks. I’d love to try this with first and second-fill casks only and see what it can do to the spirit. If this Glenmo mega vertical has shown us anything, it’s that the spirit can easily mesh with bigger flavors and come out awesome.

SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82) – Thanks to Travis for the sample.