Glenmorangie X

Because I write long reviews, I feel like I start off a good many where I don't think I have a lot to say with the words, "This will be my shortest review ever." I feel like I want to start this one off that way, but we'll see. Glenmorangie X. A few things come to mind. Jason X was the Friday the 13th movie where they moved the setting to space and tried to switch it up because they'd run out of idea. Should have sucked, and it kind of does suck, only it's also kind of fun. It's better than a lot of 10th entries in a series deserve to be. But saying that, how many series get to X? Of course, this could have been the hip rebranding of the Glenmorangie 10. Glenmorangie X! Is that why they reversed the order and put X Glenmorangie on the bottle? Because they could get sued if they called it Glenmorangie X? It hasn't stopped the distiller listing from putting it that way, but on the bottle, it does say, X by Glenmorangie. "Made for Mixing." It even comes with a rubber banded to the bottle flip book of simple-minded mixing recipes. Like Scotch and tonic? Did we really need you to provide that as a recipe? So I guess this review isn't so short. Sue me! I see I'm not in the minority here when I read other reviews: why buy this at $36 when the 10 goes for $40, but of course, the 10 now goes for $45, but it also goes on sale for $40, so you just wait and you get it for the old SRP. But wait, this is for mixing and marketed as an entry level dram for those who don't go in for scotch? OK, but like, why not Monkey Shoulder? It's been a while since I've had Monkey Shoulder, but the profiles are similar in that they lean toward citrus and cream. So while I appreciate what they're trying to do, the only way I was going to buy this was the way I did: it went on clearance for 50% off, and I got it for $18.50. At $18.50, this is a steal. If Glenmorangie could find a way to sell this for $20, it would fly off the shelves! Why? Well, it's simple but it's tasty. The nose is oranges mashed with marshmallows. The palate is alcoholic creamsicle. The finish is a slightly astringent but nevertheless short lived graham cracker goodness. At 80 proof, it's thin with not much of a mouthfeel, but if it were $20, that wouldn't matter much. At $36, I can't help but feeling there are better ways to spend your money. At $20, this would punch at its weight. I haven't tried it in a mixed drink yet, like most of you, I judge the dram on its own merits, and are we missing the point? Well, when you mix mixing and single malt, you're crossing our wires. This was always a gamble. Did it pay off? I don't think so at SRP. This is a clearance whisky, through and through.

A single malt, "made for mixing"? We all know that Glenmorangie has this scientific craving, where they try a lot of cask maturations, roasted barleys, outter-space maturation and NFTs. One of their craziest statements is this Glenmorangie "X", which is intended to end in cocktails around the world. Not very expensive, ready to be served with a mountain of ice in a nightclub, i had to review it, and of course i did it neat, as the Gods of whisky demand. Bottled at 40%abv, Amber color. On the nose, it starts with a peachy syrup, cotton candy and pineapple. Corn flakes, bananas and fruit salad. Milk chocolate. Not bad. On the palate, it is not your best dram. Pineapple, peaches, milk with sugar. The tropical orange notes from any Glenmo' are here. Hay has appeared. Aftertaste is where it falls apart. Spicy pepper, salty, very dry and short. Overall, i get how this one can make a great cocktail, and i also see why they are not selling you this single malt to be drunk neat. It is an under the average whisky, not bad, and better than most spirits that are used in cocktails. Cheap and easy drinkable, my score for it is 76 over 100.

Appearance: Pale golden hue, not unlike a medium IPA. Nose: Citrus! Orange peel stuck in my head once I noticed it; also present is fresh clementine, caramel candy, sweet orange candy. Palate: Light and subtle on the front palate, but the middle opens up with sweet orange candy and ripe stone fruit, plus caramel hard candies approaching the back palate. Perhaps also some more toasty wood and sweet oak underneath it all. Finish: Slight heat going down, but the vague medicinal finish takes over with more caramel candy, followed by something approaching tobacco. Overall: I’m no Scotch whisky expert, far from it, but this is tasty enough on its own. I can tell it would bring all the right flavors to any drink that calls for a single malt. Very mixable, if not just a tad light in body and proof to hold its own in a drink with many competing flavors. High marks in my book for its clearly intended purpose. Surprisingly tasty just to sip. 3.5 (Trying out a more abbreviated format for spirits outside my usual frame.)

I have railed against this before as the price was so close to the 10 yr so why buy it. So happens I found this on sale for $24 so figured Id check it out. I have read a lot of reviews stating" cant drink this straight/terrible neat/only for mixing". I can tell you if you prefer your scotch neat this is perfectly drinkable. Is it great?..no but certainly better than a myriad of shit grain blends. Nose is mild with malty orange, light barrel and a bit of baking spice. This theme carries into the palate with sweet malty orange and toasted oak. It is not deep or rich and the finish is fairly flat and quick. I get the idea of mixing this sure but again the normal price of this is close to the 10 which is much better in every regard so whats the point. Not a terrible malt as some would have you believe just kind of irrelevant........76/100........drinkable but the 10 yr, Monkey, Naked, and others are superior.

I love Glenmorangie. And I am so glad they marketing this as “made for mixing” so heavily. Otherwise, I’d say this is a failure when compared to the excellent products they typically put out. To be sure, this is not a good single malt for sipping neat, but add a little water and it turns from cloyingly sweet and viscous flytrap to drinkable budget scotch. Glenmorangie, you’re still #1 in my heart and I know this product was not aimed at me. I’ll stick to my Lasanta, my annual special releases, and my Signet. I feel so filthy rating a Glenmorangie so low, but I hope Dr. Lumsden knows I would still sit at his feet and listen to him lecture about the chemistry of whiskey for hours.

As others said this is not by any means made to be drank neat. I took a quick dram to try on its own and I’ll not make that mistake again. Trying this in my ginger ale now as a highball and it’s still not very appetizing. It has this strange aftertaste to it that I can’t identify but it’s very off-putting. There was a liquor store going out of business near me and I grabbed this bottle along with a Sagamore Cask Strength, Sagamore Moscatel finish, and a bottle of Schwartzhog all for $85. I think I paid $15 for the Glenmorangie so I at least don’t feel like i threw out my money because I’ll use it as a mixer as it is intended to be. 4/20/22