This Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years is the second Sonoma Cutrer finished whiskey I’ve had. The first being the Woodford Reserve Sonoma Cutrer which was less than stellar. The combination of their wine casks and Woodford’s bourbon didn’t mix well in the slightest.
Though we know from multiple tastings and some of the Glenmo experiments that the Glenmo spirit works incredibly well with wine casks. So maybe, just maybe, this will be the Sonoma-Cutrer redemption my palate has been looking for. Though this will definitely be putting the spirit and the balance to the test because the finishing time on this whiskey was a decade and a half.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years – 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 (10 years), ex-Chardonnay (15 Years)
Age: 25 Years
ABV: 50.4%
Bottles: 1,000
Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years Price: $2,430
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Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years Tasting Notes
EYE
Lightly orange honey
NOSE
Malt, grapefruit peels, spice, grapey sweetness, earth, cocoa and vanilla cake and Necco
Aroma is absurdly light, almost nothing there till water is added, but even then it remains muted.
PALATE
Malty, cocoa, dried fruit, nuts, grapey sweetness and some baking spice with hints of dried apricots, Necco, chalk and plastic.
Like the aroma, it’s super light and tight and I didn’t get much till I added some water, and even then everything it yielded was light. Not a bold whisky.
FINISH
Med-short -> Malty dried fruit and spice.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a soft lightly oiled feel.
Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years – Overall Thoughts and Score
Before today, I’ve had one other whiskey finished in Sonoma-Cutrer barrels and I didn’t really enjoy it… at all. However, I’ve also had two bottles of Sonoma-Cutrer: one of their standard Pinot Noir and their Pinot Noir aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. I liked the standard Pinot more, but both were better than any of the whiskies I’ve had finished in their barrels… till now
The Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years is good, better than either of the Sonoma finished bourbons I’ve had, but it’s incredibly light. Everything is coming through in hints and whispers and I don’t feel like I’m really getting even the level of depth I got out of the Quarter Century. I’m not upset by the Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years, just wished I got more out of this glass.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86) – Thanks to Travis for the sample
Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years $2,340
Overall
3.5- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (4)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3)