Glenmorangie Nectar d’or Review

on Jan 05 in Scotish, Single Malt Whisky by dan

Having recently heard about the relaease of glenmorangie’s artien I thought it was past due that I opened the dubious looking sample of Glenmorangie Nectar d’or for review.

I read somewhere that Jim Murray, of whisky bible fame, liked to cleanse his pallet with coffee before a tasting, and since his answer to fiona beckets question “what type of coffee”, was “any” I gargled down a starbucks pouchy instant thing and say down to a big ol’ glug of Nectar D’or.

Glenmorangie Nectar D’or Review

Glenmorangie’s Nectar D’or is on of a trio of expressions I know including the Quinta Ruban and the Lastanta. Each of these expressions are finished in different maturation casks to become “extra matured”.

• Quinta Ruben – Port cask finished
• Lasatnta – Sherry Cask Finished
• Nectar D’or – Sauternes wine cask finsihed

So with a few recomendations i’ve heard about it before and a open mind to trying a new whisky expression I would like to try to introduce you to the Glenmorangie Nectar d’or.

Nose/smell:
Having opened this and let it breathe a little at room temp it is sweet, white grape, vanilla and honey coconut. It maybe just slightly takes me back to late eighties holidays in Spain and remember piña colada in a nice way. coconut, citrus in drinks and a childish easy going nature. That’s the nose.

Taste:
Jim Murray says:

“Great to see French casks that actually complement a whisky – so rare! An exercise in outrageously good sweet-dry balancing”

http://www.glenmorangie.com/our-whiskies/nectar-dor

Thin upfront flavours gradually break over into more tastey american nought flavours like a wave of taste breaking on the coast before releasing their true flavours. Coconuts > ginger spices > limes > more spice.

Finish:
The finish is long, and has an edge of white dryness which never oversteps the line but is always there along side a sweet side which never take control either. The influence of the grapes on the whisky are very nice and though I’m not a big white wine drinker, this whisky seems to conjure the bits I do like about white wine in the finish leaving out all the stuff I don’t.

Whisky Review conclusion:

This is the first Sauternes finished whisky I’ve tried, and its likely I would have shyed away from them for a lot longer if a nice chap called Mr Miller had not send me a odd looking little sample. You see, finishing a whisky in a cask that used to be home to a drink I would not normally drink makes me less inclined to buy it, however the magic that happens in the wood means you don’t just get an amalgam of the two drinks, you get something completely new, and I am glad i tried this because I now will try more of this whisky breed. And if you have not tried a Sauternes finished whisky the I suggest you do too.