Glenmorangie Private Edition 2011 Finealta (70cl, 46%) ***sold***
The second in Glenmorangie's series of Private Editions (the first being the hugely popular Sonnalta), Finealta has sparked interest in that some lightly peated barley has been used in its creation - supposedly inspired by an (ahem) recently-discovered 1903 order for Glenmorangie from the Savoy hotel. The name is Gaelic for 'Elegance', it says here, and Finealta has been matured in ex-sherry and plain new American oak casks.
Very, very unusual for Glenmorangie (though not for current whisky trends), they've gone and peated it. This was distilled from Lightly peated barley, to an original recipe dating back to 1903. This was aged in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks. The result is a whisky with sweet vanilla and lime notes, hints of sherry and an interesting whiff of peat smoke.
Despite being owned by blenders, MacDonald & Muir, for most of the 20th century, Glenmorangie had an early focus on bottling its single malt. Some records show that its single malt was being sold as early as the late 19th century. This became the distillery's main output in 1959, and with the unique flavours derived from Scotland's tallest stills, Glenmorangie is now one of the world's biggest selling malts. As a result, the distillery portfolio over the years has been extensive, and little has been spared for independent bottlers. Pioneers of cask finishes, the distillery has never shied away from experimentation, and under the guiding hand of Maestro Dr Bill Lumsden they continue to release a variety of expressions to keep "The Sixteen Men of Tain" rushed off their feet.