Whisky Forum - Same malt - different entirely?

matt222 · Single Malt Member Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 23

Hello all,

I was recently given a couple of glasses of Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban by a friend who bought it about 2 months ago. WOW I thought, sweetest, smoothest dram I've tasted since Glenmorangie 18 year old!

Rushed out to buy myself a bottle from the same supermarket and found it altogether harsher - a sting and a strong burn and hardly any caramel sweetness at all, even to a hardened pallete like mine!

Got my bottle side by side with my freind's bottle and 3 of us all decided that they were significantly different. First bottle sweet, smooth, candied and not at all burning, whereas my bottle difficult to drink with or without water!

Anyone come across this before??

Charlie · Master Of Malts Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 1405

By there very nature no 2 batches of single malt whisky will be 100% identical, the distilleries work hard to make sure this is not noticeable. I cant say i have come across such a noticeable difference but i would guess if it was going to happen it would be more noticeable in wine cask finished whiskies such as Quinta Ruban. You could try contacting Glenmorangie if you think it is not drinkable.

Quaich1 · Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject:

Matt was there any damage to the cork or did the cork have any mold on it?
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

matt222 · Single Malt Member Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 23

Hi, thanks for replying guys,

I understand there will always be slight differences but this was considerable. All 3 of us have drank scotch for a good few years and we all agreed that on the basis of my friend's bottle we'd drink it for evermore, but on the basis of my bottle, we'd never bother agiain!

I did contact Glenmorangie but frankly, can't be bothered to send it back. It's so fustrating: I thought I'd found an absolute beauty untill I bought my bottle. Furthermore, my wife is as keen as I for scotch and she couldn't even drink it!

matt222 · Single Malt Member Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 23

A very helpful lady at Glenmorangie reponded to my concern and offered a couple of possible explanations and kindly posted out a replacement bottle - not expected but very grateful nevertheless!

Charlie · Master Of Malts Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 1405

Quaich1

Big Mac

matt222 · Single Malt Member Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Posts: 23

Basicly a ' bad ' cork!

I'm not convinced but they were obviously careful to select a replacement bottle from a good batch as it was really good - a splash of water needed at 46% ( a first for me )
but would buy again.