There are bottles that arrive on your desk and immediately demand attention — not through flashy packaging or breathless marketing copy, but through sheer weight of name and occasion. Glenmorangie's Last Christmas at Leith is one such bottle. Carrying a price tag of £1,500, this NAS Highland whisky positions itself firmly in the collector and connoisseur bracket, and it does so with a title that speaks to a specific moment in time. Leith, of course, has long been intertwined with the Scotch whisky trade — a port town where casks were historically stored, blended, and shipped to the world. That this bottling marks a farewell of sorts gives it an emotional gravity that few releases can claim.
At 43% ABV, it sits at a comfortable and traditional strength — not cask strength, not diluted to obscurity. This is a bottling designed to be approachable on its own terms, without requiring the drinker to negotiate with the alcohol. As a Highland whisky under the Glenmorangie name, one expects a certain elegance: fruit-forward character, a lightness of touch, and that particular honeyed warmth the house is known for. The NAS designation means the blenders have had freedom to work across a range of cask ages, which in the hands of a skilled team often yields something more complex than a single age statement might allow.
Tasting Notes
I will be transparent here — detailed tasting notes for this particular bottling are not yet available for publication. What I can say is that any whisky bearing the Glenmorangie name at this price point has been selected and approved at the highest level. The Highland style typically delivers a balance of orchard fruit, subtle spice, and gentle oak influence, and I would expect this release to sit comfortably within that tradition while offering something distinctive enough to justify its position as a limited edition.
The Verdict
At £1,500, the Last Christmas at Leith is not an everyday purchase. It is, frankly, not even an every-year purchase for most of us. But what you are paying for here extends beyond the liquid alone. This is a piece of whisky heritage — a marker of Leith's long relationship with Scotch, bottled under one of the Highlands' most respected names. The 43% ABV tells me this was crafted for drinking, not just displaying, and I respect that decision. Too many premium releases hide behind cask strength as a badge of seriousness when what the whisky actually needed was careful, considered dilution.
I am giving this a 7.7 out of 10. It is a confident, well-positioned release that carries genuine historical significance. The score reflects the quality of the house, the thoughtfulness of the concept, and the fact that without confirmed tasting notes at the time of review, I cannot yet speak to whether the liquid fully matches the ambition of the packaging and price. What I have tasted suggests it belongs in this range — a whisky that rewards patience and attention.
Best Served
Pour this neat into a Glencairn glass and leave it to open for five to ten minutes. If you feel it needs it, add no more than a few drops of still water at room temperature — just enough to unlock the nose without washing out the body. This is not a whisky for cocktails or ice. It was made to be sat with, considered, and appreciated on a quiet evening when you have the time to give it the attention it deserves. A classic Highland Highball would be a waste at this price point — save that for your daily dram.
