Glenmorangie Companta Review

The fifth release in the Private Editions line was the Glenmorangie Companta (2014). Because of the intense popularity and praise the Ealanta received I picked up one of these as soon as it hit the store. Turned out I didn’t need to be so punctual on the purchase because it sat on the shelves for a couple of months.

Aged for 10 years in ex-Bourbon casks and then finished for 2 years in red wine casks, it didn’t quite make the same impact as the previous year’s. Which was fine by me, because I loved what the Grand Cru casks from Clos de Tart & fortified wine casks from Cotes du Rhone did to the Glenmorangie spirit.

This seemingly under-appreciated Private Edition was the PE that turned me into a fan of this line. Finealta and Sonnalta I tasted long after they were sold out thanks to friends but never tasted the Artein and Ealanta till recently. Companta was the start of my Glenmorangie Private Edition journey and I’m happy to be opening another and revisiting it for this series.

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Glenmorangie Companta – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

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

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Red wine (Bourgogne and Côtes du Rhône)
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46%

Released: 2014 (5th)

Glenmorangie Companta Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $130)

Related Whiskey

Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Years
Glenmorangie Sherry Wood 12 Years
Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
Glenmorangie Finealta
Glenmorangie Artein

White background tasting shot with the Glenmorangie Companta bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“Inspired by Dr Bill’s travels across France’s greatest vineyards and the friends made along the way, Companta is a refined balance between bold spice and rich, smooth sweetness” – Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie Companta Tasting Notes

EYE
Rusty amber

NOSE
SweetTarts, honied graham, baking spice, leather, cocoa, citrus zest and some vanilla frosting and ash.

There is a mild candy sweetness that ties it all together and even hits moments of beautiful dark sweetness.

PALATE
Dried dark fruit, copper, SweetTarts, honied graham, baking spice, leather, cocoa, citrus zest and some vanilla frosting and ash.

There’s an essence to it (dark fruit + honied graham) that makes me think of blueberry pie. It doesn’t taste like blueberry pie, but the combo of flavors here is triggering that thought.

FINISH
Medium -> Dark fruit, honied graham and copper in a warm oily fade.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium-full body and a lightly oily feel.

Glenmorangie Companta – Overall Thoughts and Score

It’s enjoyable. At moments it cane start to turn a bit too sweet but then some of the earthy notes to arrive to tame it down a bit. It’s a weirdly shifting whisky that goes from meh to good and back. It’s a whisky that keeps me guessing… and I kinda like that. I even like the way the finish can get a bit metallic at times, it comes through like a living morphing whisky. It’s a weird whisky, and I like weird whiskies.

I like the ones that stick out of their category and have a unique profile and tastiness to them, something that forces you to pay attention. This definitely fits that bill and ever since I opened it I find myself constantly wanting to go back and continue exploring it. Glenmorangie Companta is a weird whisky, but in the best of ways.

SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89)