The seventh release in the Private Editions line was the Glenmorangie Milsean (2016) which is Gaelic for Sweet Things. Created by the always curious Dr. Bill Lumsden, who oversees the production of both Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, he’s the mastermind behind these special editions. He’s the orchestrator of their creation and final release, so if you don’t like one he’s the guy to blame! ;)
To make Milsean, Dr. Bill and team got their hands on 269 Portuguese red wine barriques (casks) and had them re-toasted. This re-toasting caramelized the sugars from the wine to create an abundance of soluble sugars for their 10-year-old Glenmorangie spirit to absorb. For 2 years after that, Dr. Bill kept the barrels in the coolest corners of their warehouses to try and keep everything as balanced as possible.
After 2 years 167 of the wine barriques were chosen to be dumped, blended together and then put back in the casks for another 6 months to marry and finish. After the additional finishing was complete they dumped all the barrels, chill-filtered the whisky and bottled it as Glenmorangie Milsean.
Though, a quick note on Glenmorangie’s particular chill filtering. It’s considered a “light chill-filtration”, a brisk autumn morning chill filtration is you will. They only cool the whisky down to 7 degrees Celsius (44.6 Fahrenheit) and then use a “wider than average” filter to allow some of the oils to remain in the whisky. This occurs for every release that doesn’t expressly say “Non-Chill Filtered” on the bottle.
Let’s get to drinin’!
Glenmorangie Milsean – 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-Madeira
Age: 12+ Years
ABV: 46%
Released: 2016 (7th)
Glenmorangie Milsean Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $100)
Related Whiskey
Glenmorangie Finealta
Glenmorangie Artein
Glenmorangie Ealanta
Glenmorangie Companta
Glenmorangie Tusail
Glenmorangie Milsean Tasting Notes
EYE
Ruddy orange
NOSE
Vanilla, butterscotch, malt, candy dots on wax paper, tropical and orchard fruit, citrus peels and dried fruit with lots of light sweet notes floating about.
Smells like an olde time candy shop which, coincidentally, is what they were going for.
PALATE
Vanilla, butterscotch, malt, candy dots, tropical and orchard fruit, dry cocoa, lemon zest, baking spice and dark sweets
Maltier than the aroma, but that same candy shop essence exists with light and dark sweet notes accompanied by fruit, chocolate and lemon zest with a light bit of baking spice.
FINISH
Medium -> Fruit, powdered sugar and a buttery sweetness.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Can’t exactly call it balanced as it’s one sweet note after another. However, it does have a nice full body and a soft syrupy feel to it.
Glenmorangie Milsean – Overall Thoughts and Score
A single glass of Glenmorangie Milsean is not a bad thing, but towards the end of my first review dram I didn’t immediately want another. A second would have been overwhelming in the sweetness department and I’m not a sweets guy… or sweet guy. I’m a salty/savory curmudgeonly guy. Though, I’m not so saccharophobic that I can’t tell when a whisky has merit. There are no foul, harsh or off-notes so I can’t completely trash it just because I don’t have a sweet tooth.
Of all the private editions this is the most decisive, at least in my circle of whisky friends. I’ve read some glowing reviews of it, and I think it all has to do with your love or tolerance for sweetness. If you like sweet things you’re going to love the Glenmorangie Milsean. If you don’t you probably won’t.
SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82) – Thanks to Travis for the sample
Glenmorangie Milsean Review $100
Overall
3- Nose (3)
- Palate (3)
- Finish (3)
- BBF (3)
User Review
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