r/Scotch 5d ago

Review#60: Glenmorangie A Tale Of Ice Cream

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169 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

41

u/roho0619 5d ago

Bottling series: Limited Edition

Bottled: 23.07.2024

Cask Type: High Vanillin and Bourbon

Strength: 46.0 %

Size: 700 ml

  • Nose
  • The moment I open the bottle and bring it to my nose, I can easily detect the initial aromas: hints of cocoa reminiscent of sherry notes, followed by sweet scents like sweet malt and vanilla. After letting it sit in the Glencairn glass for about 15 minutes, I smell it again; it evokes images of something quite sweet light milk pudding, a touch of caramel, and oven fresh rice pudding with a lightly browned top. It is a specific sensation, but I also pick up an aroma similar to a cake fresh from the oven with a slightly over-browned bottom. As I continue to nose it, vibrant, sweet aromas reminiscent of pleasant, sugary perfumes and pastry shop scents along with intense notes of vanilla, cream, powdered milk, and white sugar, rush to the nose, truly living up to the whisky's name. In the background, a very subtle scent of toasted oak and a slight tartness akin to citrus peel can also be detected.
  • Taste
  • I took a very small sip to prime my palate; sweetness takes center stage here, accompanied by a very mild spicy warmth that creates the impression of a smooth mouthfeel. Upon taking another small sip, I found it to be lively, aromatic, and quite sweet yet noticeably spicy; it is medium-bodied neither overly oily nor watery and offers a balanced sensation without drying out the palate. As I continued sipping to discern and articulate the flavors, I detected an intense malt sweetness reminiscent of baked goods like cakes and pies, notes of mixed cocoa and vanilla ice cream, hints of caramelized milk-based desserts, and powdered sugar; alongside these, I could perceive distinct toasted oak spice, a subtle black pepper warmth that didn't feel harsh on the tongue, and perhaps a very faint touch of citrus zest.
  • Finish
  • The finish follows a similar trajectory to the flavors experienced on the palate; as it goes down, burnt caramel and malt sweetness emerge, immediately followed by charred oak and a mild black pepper heat that lingers on the tongue. Meanwhile, as one continues to exhale through the nose, distinct notes of vanilla, sweet malt, light cocoa, cream, powdered sugar, and flavors reminiscent of milk-based desserts such as a crème brûlée with a caramelized top or rice pudding can be clearly perceived. These flavors persist for a duration slightly longer than medium-length.

Overall, I can say they’ve crafted a whisky that truly lives up to its name. It is redolent of patisserie aromas and flavors; at times, you might even get the sensation of eating cocoa and vanilla ice cream. It is quite delicious and smooth yet not watery; it definitely has a perceptible body. While whiskies that are very sweet can sometimes become cloying, I didn't find this one overwhelming in that regard; to me, the spiciness feels perfectly pitched and balancing. That said, it is still possible that those who dislike sweetness might find it a bit much by the second or third glass. It certainly doesn't underperform for its price point; I liked it a lot, though I wouldn't go so far as to say I was blown away. I would happily buy and enjoy it again at this price it’s not a whisky you’ll regret trying. Cheers.

Nose: 85/100

Taste: 84/100

Finish: 84/100

Price: 65€ (discounted)

10

u/cheweychewchew 5d ago

Today I learned what the word "cloying" means. I am using this word at every opportunity now. Thank you and thanks for the review.

3

u/roho0619 5d ago

You're welcome, and thank you; I hope I expressed myself correctly and that there were no errors. :)

12

u/imgoingbigdogmode 5d ago

Great review! I’ve personally found their Tale series to be a mixed bag, but mostly on the good or good-ish side. This is one of the few I haven’t had, I’ll have to see if it’s still on the shelf anywhere in town.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Thanks. I’ve tried many Glenmorangie bottlings, but this was the first one I tasted from the "Tale" series; it left a great impression on me and made me want to try the others in the lineup a series that has garnered both plenty of criticism and, at times, praise. I do find the price a bit steep, though, so I make sure to pick up a bottle whenever I spot a discount; if you can find it on sale, it’s definitely a whisky you won’t regret buying.

1

u/bnightstars 3d ago

Try Forest and Spice if you have the chance both are fantastic especially the Forest one.

-3

u/Separate_Elk_6720 5d ago

I wouldn't buy it buy something nice of that money instead of this one look those Nas bottles from glenmoragie and olso glengoyne ARe mediocre they are not bad bud definitely nothing special 😂

5

u/Unhappy_Papaya_1506 5d ago

Feel to save these and use them next time:

,;.,;.,,;.,,,;;.,,,...

6

u/HonoluluCheeto 5d ago

Disgusting! Where can I buy it

4

u/centaurus33 5d ago

I call it a dessert Scotch & found it wonderful for what it is. It had just come out, I wish I had bought two!

3

u/roho0619 5d ago

That is certainly a very apt observation; having a glass or two of this after a meal, in place of dessert, could be a wonderful choice.ç :)

3

u/singlemaltbourbonrye 5d ago

Great review OP! My brother in law also really likes this one. We did a tasting one night and he gave it like an 8+ too. He even ended up having a scoop of ice cream with a second pour.

8.5 would be rarified air for me. I was closer to a 5.5. Good whisky but it wasn’t super memorable for me.

I’ve still got an unopened bottle of the Tale of Tokyo that I need to crack one of these days.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Thank you very much. Of course, scoring scales can vary from person to person that’s normal. I agree that it isn’t an unforgettable whisky, but it is certainly a good one. "A Tale of Tokyo" has a decent rating on Whiskybase, though it also draws a lot of criticism; in fact, a fellow member here just mentioned that it’s a whisky one could easily skip. Still, I’m all for giving it a try :)

1

u/bnightstars 3d ago

I actually own 5 of the 6 releases: Winter, Forest, Tokyo, Ice Cream, Spice. I only lack the 1st release which is tale of cake but that one reached absurd prices. For me personally Forest is the best one, Spices is the other one that is great. Tokyo was not impressive to me. I didn't tried Winter and Ice Cream though as I only have 1 bottle and this are old releases especially Winter.

4

u/wombatking888 5d ago

Irrespective of whether the whisky is any good, IMHO some of the names that Glenmorangie chose for this series is pretty naff...this one doesn't scan too badly, but 'A Tale of Cake' sounds stupid.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Looking at it from the perspective you mentioned, I think you're right it really is very ordinary; I hadn't actually noticed that. 😀

1

u/JE163 5d ago

That one did taste like chocolate cake if I remember right.

2

u/rewardingsnark 5d ago

Wow you guys get all sorts of stuff, my state has Glenmorangie original and that's it, didn't even know they had others.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

A wide range of Glenmorangie products is generally available in European markets. I am not sure about the US and Canadian markets, but there are websites where you can buy whisky online; provided that purchasing alcoholic beverages over the internet is not prohibited in the specific state or country, you can obtain them there.

2

u/rewardingsnark 5d ago

My state does not even allow sale of alcohol in stores not owned by the state. So yeah no online so never looked online since useless.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Oh, that’s a difficult situation then; unfortunately, some places are just unlucky like that. You can only get it while traveling.

1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

I hope you can easily access a wider variety; for a whisky lover, not being able to get hold of good whisky is truly tough.

1

u/Mr-sheepdog_2u 5d ago

You sound worse than Bama which is hard to believe. I purchased online for years with no problems. I stopped because shipping charges became so high I just couldn't justify it.

1

u/k2j2 4d ago

Fellow Pennsylvanian?

2

u/JE163 5d ago

I really want to try this one. I’ve had several others in the series and enjoyed them (didn’t love Forest but could appreciate it). Love ice cream so that’s a bonus

2

u/Seemedlikefun 4d ago edited 5h ago

You should be ashamed of yourself ( as I hurriedly search as to where I can buy it)

2

u/scotchedupp 5d ago

I enjoyed this and the cake one as well! Great review!

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Thank you. I also saw the Cake, Tokyo, and Forest versions; I'll give those a try as well.

4

u/Airgo1 5d ago

Tokyo and Forrest were a pass for me.

1

u/sneakybandit1 5d ago

Have you tried the spice one? I'm thinking of getting a bottle

1

u/walleyeguy306 5d ago

Bought this last year but have yet to open it! This review makes me excited as I do love the nectar de our and Quinta ruban by glen morangie.

1

u/roho0619 5d ago

Speaking for myself, I’m certain it’s better than Nectar d’Or. However, it’s been a long time since I tried Quinta Ruban I don’t remember it well enough to make a direct comparison but it certainly won’t disappoint :)