Glenmorangie Bacalta, 8th Private Edition with Malmsey Madeira Cask

Glenmorangie

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Thanks to the wonderful invitation, I recently had the opportunity to sample the eighth limited edition from Glenmorangie’s award-winning Private Edition – Glenmorangie Bacalta, also is the first Glenmorangie finished entirely in sun-baked Malmsey Madeira casks, extra-matured to create a complex fruity and sweet character.

Anticipated and sought-after by whisky aficionados around the world, Glenmorangie’s Private Edition range is made up of a collection of rare and intriguing single malts released annually since 2010, each exploring the Scottish Highland Distillery’s passion for innovation.

Glenmorangie Bacalta is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.

Colour : Light gold

Nose : Fragrant, honeyed and sweet. Some ripe apricots, mead-like, and a curious minerally / flinty note, followed by some sweet white chocolate. A little water brings out a classic ‘rancio’ / aged Balsamic tone, with a suggestion of baked bread, malty / biscuit notes, meadow flowers and some peach crumble.

Taste : An initial burst of mint toffee, with baked fruits such as caramelised oranges and apricots, lots of honeycomb, almonds and dates. Hints of milk chocolate, marzipan, white pepper and ripe, juicy honeydew melon.

Finish : A rich, syrupy aftertaste, with more caramelised citrus and pears, some creamy fudge, but always an intriguing mentholic / eucalyptus sensation in the background.

We get to taste the Glenmorangie Original and Glenmorangie Lasanta as well during the exclusive media tasting session – two single malts which recently achieved a prestigious gold award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in 2016.

The inspiration behind Glenmorangie Bacalta dates back to 1997, with the release of Glenmorangie Madeira Finish, the world’s first whisky extra-matured in Madeira casks. With its unique and intricate flavour, Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation was determined to continue the brand’s innovation with Madeira casks and realise his own vision of the perfect Madeira-finished Glenmorangie.

First, bespoke American oak casks were created, heavily toasted, and then seasoned with Malmsey wine – the sweetest and most prized of Madeira wines. Emptied, the casks were then shipped to Scotland and filled with specially selected spirits which were previously matured in ex-bourbon barrels. The Malmsey seasoned casks lends the Glenmorangie Bacalta a distinctive layer of sun-baked sweetness.

“Connoisseurs will recognise the radiating warmth of our bespoke sun-baked casks in Glenmorangie Bacalta’s aromas of ripe apricots, white chocolate and mineral notes. Glenmorangie Bacalta is a burst of sunshine in a glass with its complex tastes of mint toffee, baked fruits, honeycomb, almonds and dates, mingling with marzipan, white pepper and melon ending with a rich, syrupy finish”, said Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation.

The Glenmorangie Bacalta is priced at RM530 inclusive of GST and is available directly through Moet Hennessy Diageo at 603.2053.8688 or info@mhdm.com.my.

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More photos at FOOD Malaysia facebook page, a Malaysian food & lifestyle blogger since 2010

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