First Impressions
Glenmorangie 18 Extremely Rare — from the distillery near Tain in Ross-shire, founded 1843 by the Matheson brothers who converted Morangie Farm. The stills here are Scotland's tallest at 26 feet 3 inches (about 8 metres), ensuring only the lightest, most elegant vapours make the cut.
The Maturation
Fifteen years in ex-bourbon American white oak casks, then finished for three years in Oloroso sherry casks — approximately 30% sherry-finished spirit blended back in. This expression has since been rebranded as 'The Infinita' with updated packaging, but the liquid tells the same story of patient oak management.
Tasting
Candied pecans and apfelstrudel on the nose with floral elegance. The palate delivers honey and vanilla custard with exotic lychee and cardamom — the sherry adds depth without overwhelming the bourbon sweetness. The finish is gentle and refined, almost too gentle for some, but that's the tall stills speaking.
The Verdict
Glenmorangie 18 earns an 8 — a masterclass in elegant Highland whisky. The combination of Scotland's tallest stills and the bourbon-to-sherry maturation creates something genuinely refined. Some find the finish too soft for £85, but this is about elegance not power. The patient drinker's reward.
