The ninth release in the Private Editions line was the Glenmorangie Spios (2018). Its name, in Scots Gaelic, means spice, which is perfect for a whisky aged completely in ex-Rye Whiskey barrels. I like when a whisky’s name just simply says what it is.
We’re used to ex-Bourbon, and we know ex-rye get in the mix, but I’ve wondered for decades what would happen if only rye was used? There had to be a reason no Scotch producer sought out only those barrels. Maybe it was profile, maybe it was just branding, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to experience; now I can.
My underlying hope for the Spios is that it opens the path to even more experiments like this. I’d love it if someone like Talisker or Kilchoman did a rye-only release so we can see what happens when peat meets spice. But, for now, we’ll have to settle for Glenmorangie. Though settling is a rather harsh way to put it, but you get what I mean.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
Glenmorangie Spios – 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-Rye
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 46%
Released: 2018
Glenmorangie Spios Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (originally $60)
Related Whiskey
Glenmorangie Ealanta
Glenmorangie Companta
Glenmorangie Tusail
Glenmorangie Milsean
Glenmorangie Bacalta
Glenmorangie Spios Tasting Notes
EYE
Golden
NOSE
Honey, orchard fruit, spice, buttery graham, tangerine, vanilla, Fun Dip and a bit of frosting and malt.
Baking spice slowly goes from amorphous to cinnamon and nutmeg lead as it opens.
PALATE
Dried orchard fruit, baking spice, graham, malt, banana, cocoa and a bit of oak, tobacco and a slight herbal character.
Fruity and spicy in a way that does remind me, a bit, of a young rye whiskey.
FINISH
Medium -> Apple heavy fruit, malt, cocoa, spice and oak. But not like a bourbon oak, but like a small-barrel-craft-rye-whiskey kind of oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, medium body and a soft chalky feel.
Glenmorangie Spios – Overall Thoughts and Score
Glenmorangie Spios is a fun whisky. Is it the best Glenmorangie I’ve ever had? Nope. Is it the most unique, intriguing and, as I just said, fun Glenmorangie I’ve ever had? Kind of, yeah. The aroma is easily the best part of the Spios – it’s elegant, soft and complex. The palate is less dynamic and comes across as less “modified” from the Glenmo 10 until it starts to fade into the finish, where it gets really interesting.
The finish starts out fruity and malty, but after a few seconds this heavy essence of rye whiskey and “craft oak” (young oak) arrives and dominates the fade-out with the other notes moving to the back of the room. I always look forward to trying these yearly releases because they’re interesting and show just how much you can change a whisky by the casks it’s in.
I may not love each year’s release, but that doesn’t make them any less exciting; experimentation is always a fun thing to witness and the Glenmorangie Spios is one heck of an experiment.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86) – Thanks to Travis for the sample
Glenmorangie Spios Review $60
Overall
3.5- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (3.5)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3.5)
