Tasting Notes: Glenmorangie: Sonnalta PX

Glenmorangie: Sonnalta PX (Scottish Highland Single Malt Whisky: no age statement: 46% ABV)

Visual: Slightly burnished gold.

Viscosity: Comparatively fast and slick.

Nose: Lots of red grapes, possibly Muscat grapes. Orange. Toffee and slight vinous sourness. Wood shavings. Spicy, plum pudding. Some white grapes behind the strong spiced front.  Water adds rhubarb crumble and apple.

Body: Very sweet orange crème. Brandy cream. Sour cherries, or possibly their representation in sweets . Milk chocolate and toffee. Apple crumble.  Water smoothes slightly and adds plums.

Finish:  Red grapes, bailies and fudge. Sugared apples. Water makes chocolate come out and adds the odd mix of raisins, custard and blueberry.

Conclusion: Definitely a whisky that belongs to that odd group of “dessert whisky”. Spicy and pudding sweet meet here in the booming aroma.  Grapes and wine are massively expressive and roll heavily out of the glass. In fact the power of the aroma is such that some elements area more easily picked up nearly a foot from the glass.

The fruitiness continues into the body, and mid body suddenly sour fruits start to sparkle against the sweetness.  Fantastically dessert sweet and refreshingly sour in a great mix. Very refreshing for a whisky, it leaves your mouth shimmering for a good while after.  It’s instantly potent, yet allows for such depth and range of subtle flavours. The Pedro Ximenez influence is obvious, and the Glenmorangie spirit lets us hear it roar.

Great with a dessert, or as a refreshing social gathering whisky, or even better for a slow luxurious examination. A whisky that shows its elegant facets and deceptive tartness that you will want to keep around for a while.

Background: Had at a local pub with wonderful whisky selection, this particular whisky had been recommended by the barmaid before so I decided to give it a try.  Glenmorangie has, for me, been a solid but uninspiring whisky in their main range, however recent exposure to their experimental range has given me a newfound respect for what they can turn out. This was the second in the distilleries “Private Collection” range and has been finished in Pedro Ximenez casks.