Whisky Review: Glenmorangie Ealanta

Unmistakably Glenmorangie. Sweet. Full, yet delicate. Slight bitterness in just the right measure to balance everything out. There is a cinnamon-roasted almond note throughout which has become somewhat of a trademark element in middle-aged Glenmorangie releases in my own experience. I find it quite welcome. The familiar Glenmorangie citrus zest is also present. Not nearly as oaky as one might expect, the years have mellowed the dram. The finish is enjoyably long and soft. There are a few spice notes which whisper their presence late, but never speak up enough to derail the sweet and definitively drinkable dram. Final Thoughts & Score/Buy A Bottle: Score: 93/100 Glenmorangie Ealanta is single malt of distinction and quality, to be sure. I found the entire presentation to be quite enjoyable, the rather cumbersome accompanying literature notwithstanding. In fact, I keep referring to Ealanta as “a bit of a stunner” in my mind. Being named World Whisky of the Year in 2014 unceremoniously strips the release of any claim to dark horse status, which is honestly a bit of a shame. The price it currently fetches on the secondary market as a result is flatly ridiculous. The overall experience has an amount of overlap with the widely available 18-year-old Glenmorangie. With Ealanta being a roughly 19-year-old release, this should come as a surprise to no one. There was, however, enough of a separate identity from that whisky to justify this bottling, in my opinion. On paper, the dram is certainly straightforward. Where Ealanta defines itself is in execution, which is simply masterful. This is a finely-crafted single malt, and a special one at that. Just how special is it? Well, that is a matter of debate. And if there is anything we malt lovers enjoy more than a dram, it is a debate. And a dram.