Scotch Aged in the Rarest Sherry Casks: Glenmorangie Palo Cortado 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

It's good to be back and life has been busy in all of the best ways. Through this busy season I've been sipping on this Glenmorangie Palo Cortado 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This GlenMo Palo Cortado has a lot going for it. For starters it's an age stated Glenmorangie bottled at 46%. Like most of the Glenmorangie range it started it's life in American White Oak Ex-bourbon casks. It spent it's first 8 years in these ex-bourbon casks before being finished for 4 years in the rarest of all sherry casks, Palo Cortado. What makes these rare is that Palo Cortado occurs spontaneously as opposed to purposefully. Only 1-2% of all sherry becomes Palo Cortado so naturally there are fewer of these casks to be found than other types of sherry. Glenmorangie's Single Malt Scotch Whisky is known to showcase various different cask types very well so this seems like a great opportunity to see how Palo Cortado presents in an un-peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky. What also made this whisky an attractive one to purchase here in Canada is that, much to my surprise, this is one of the few whiskies cheaper to purchase in Canada than in the U.K. For all for these reasons I made this Glenmorangie Palo Cortado 12 Year Old my first GlenMo purchase in years. This was a whisky that I really had to take my time getting to know before I was ready to review. I hope you all enjoy the video. Cheers!
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[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Something a big house can do. They have a lot of whisky and certainly have enough to sell older! Glad it came out at 46% too. I don't think I've ever had a Palo Cortado cask Scotch. Almost always the key ... give it time, drink below the shoulder, just relax with it. I enjoy a bit of spice with a rich Scotch. I may pick it up. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@whiskywhereabouts]

Nice buy. I've only seen it at $80 USD, here in the States.

[@pepebruno1672]

Great and honest review Matt. I actually do rather enjoy this one. I do not pick up that overwhelming Ginger note that is so predominant for you. I only get a bit of it on the nose, and in a pleasant way. One interesting note on the nose for me is Nutella - nice. It is a good dram and definitely you have a SUPERIOR price!

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Very nice Matt, I feel your rollercoaster journey with this whisky. We bought this bottle between 8 friends last year and finished it throughout the night but none of got really connected with it. I think with Glenmorangies we're used to getting the distillery character and then the cask influence is like a sprinkle on top. So you get the outside effect whilst keeping the distillery character. This one, alongside the Malaga perhaps, are the ones I got the least Glenmorangie like feel, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Interesting whisky for sure and a great price at that. Cheers!

[@ledani87]

nice review!

[@timloucks4325]

Wow, great price in Canada. I paid $80.99 US. That’s considerably more than the 14 Quinta ($55-$60) but worth a shot. Honestly, I’m never going to see the Springbank Palo Cortado at retail, so this is my consolation. I have been enjoying the Glen Scotia 12 (mermaid), so Palo Cortado is definitely on my radar now. I’ll try to look for that “ginger” note next time I sample it. Great review. Cheers.

[@justwhisky]

Great honest review and assessment…. I enjoy this offering and if it was available at your price I would definitely snag a backup. Cheers 🥃

[@pepebruno1672]

Hi John, I was able to get it at around $80 in TW. Got 4 backups! You did a great review on this one as well!

[@andrewbutler7681]

I think the main problem people have with saying "Glenmorangie" is where the stress falls (and the new label design doesn't help!): if you think "glenmORANGE-y" (or even "glenMOR'ngee") you might fare better... Definitely not "glenmorANgie"! I've currently got 4 Palo Cortado finished whiskies, though I've not had the chance to try the Glenmorangie one yet: a 1997 Deanston 21-year-old, an 18-year-old Dunville's Irish, a 2005 Bladnoch 15-year-old and a Mosgaard Organic from Denmark. All very nice indeed!

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Hi Andrew, well done for the Deanston, it's awesome (I have a sample somewhere I'll include when I'll do a Deanston overview, I'm late to do it I know, Cheers !

[@AB-kf8ry]

This is the sister release to their 12 Year Amontillado Cask Finish which is natural colour, and non-chill filtered. So it's probably natural colour and NCF as well.

[@petevj]

The 12 Palo Cortado is a nice one. I think their unique bottling are their best. If you want some fun then try the 16 peated.

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Hi Matt, I'm a Glenmorangie fan, historically, since 2002 & my first visit there, but not a big fan of current core range, once passed the 10 yo (decent) & the 18 yo (too reduced but sophisticated) & the 25 yo I never tasted, but for me some of their "Tale of..." are bit more interesting than core range finishes, plus, obviously for me too, in my experience, more than a half of their now stopped "Private Edition" limited releases range, showcasing a lot of different finishes or other elements changing from core range. Plus, on top of that, they are most often 46 % or more (51,2 % for the "'Allta" I have) & non chill filtered. These were, for me the range made for us whisky geeks, and I regret that it has ended (you're gonna struggle to find them & probably pay too much on secondary market, but I'll tell you more in DM about those I have, liked, etc...I've reviewed some of them only. I tried some other great releases from them (some old & or rare ones) including at the distillery only, but your notes for this expression, I have to say, are disappointing regarding what I'd like to hear from a Palo Cortado finish in my modest experience with it. My favorite Palo Cortado release remains a stunning Deanston 1997 limited official release a few years ago. I'm also enjoying the Caol Ila 11 yo Cadenhead with this finish & have reviewed it within my latest live show...Cheers & thanks for this review !

[@peatbull3426]

I tried a sample of this Cadenhead's Caol Ila and it was best Caol Ila i have so far. 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋‍♂️

[@pepebruno1672]

I actually think the Glenmorangie 12 Palo Cortado is superior to the Tale of Tokyo. What do you think of that head to head?

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

@@pepebruno1672 I haven't tried the 12 PC yet, so can only go by guessing, hearing Matt's notes....

[@peatbull3426]

@@pepebruno1672 no idea. Im Not Glenmo fan,its just not my piece of cake. Maybe is good but far to pricy. If i want good PC finish or maturation there is realy good Old Perth at 55.9% for aprox. £55. Glenmo is £75. Sorry but for that price i have Speyburn 18yo so 🤷‍♂️

[@peatbull3426]

Glen Merenge 😉

[@NoteworthyWhisky]

Great video! In regards to the extra years on the label, I had a 14 Port and was not impressed. My theory is they have to go longer in the cask because they aren’t getting the impact they want in that time with inferior wood. The port I had was over cooked. Maybe the other bottles will suffer the same? I had been very curious about this bottle and almost bought it a few times, but held off. I’m with you about not being super enthusiastic about Glenmorangie. Cheers, Matt!

[@Watchman999]

Glen-more-orange-y

[@Watchman999]

I’m more interested in the Dewar’s Double Double 27 Palo Cortado whisky at this point. And Springbank 10 Palo Cortado? No contest.

[@Hyster27]

Hi Matt, I'm coming out to Canada (from Scotland) soon and would like to take a bottle or two with me as a gift for a whisky loving friend, I'm wondering what would be difficult to get over in Toronto? Any suggestions on what is hard to get there?

[@Wielki000]

Springbank is very hard to get in Canada now, even the 10 yr old is hard to find. Or if he likes peated whisky the Longrow NAS is even hard to find as well. Kilkerran is pretty difficult now too

[@ironmantran]

scotch bubble bursted . . . countries recommend to drink less . . . market saturation . . . peeps buy more than they drink . . . silly prices . . . wine-sk(e)y are hit + miss , not so hot . . . Scotch interest may levelled off / or plateau : sounds like a trend.