Yes, I know….Yet another travel retail NAS expression being pushed at us by whisky companies’ marketing departments in a never-ending procession of boring, indistinct, and uninspired expressions. Yet, even within such a plethora of blandness, they are bound to be some expressions that are worth your time and effort and I’m happy to report that I’ve actually come across one of them in this expression from Glenmorangie.
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Glenmorangie’s legends series currently holds three expressions, one of which is indeed exemplary of the trends currently awash in travel retail. The Duthac is named for the legend of St. Duthac, the patron saint of Tain, is finished both in Pedro Ximénez and in virgin oak was so uninspiring that I didn’t even bother taking notes of it. I did taste the Tarlogan in an airport, but tasting a tiny bit out of a small plastic shot glass isn’t enough to really form an opinion of it. I will say that as a serious lover of Glenmorangie in virgin oak (recall both the Astar and the Ealanta) I expected to be blown away by the Tarlogan to the extent of having to buy a bottle right there and then, but that didn’t happen. So the jury is still awaiting a further, more conducive, encounter with the Tarlogan. Now enter the Tayne. I rarely buy any whisky at the local duty free shop at TLV, as they’re wildly expensive on most things, and I usually prefer to save my free liter to bring in a bottle of my choosing from my destination. But my wife went to Bucharest on a quick trip on business, so I figured using her free liter wasn’t a waste. I found the Tayne for $80, and figured I’d give it a whirl, as I do have somewhat of a soft spot for Glenmorangie.
The Tayne’s “legend” is built around a Spanish galleon which supposedly sank, laden with gold bullion, in the Tayne Firth.
Here’s the legendary Dr. Bill Lumsden on this expression:
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Glenmorangie Legends Collection – Tayne (43%)
Appearance: Rich Amber, quick thin legs running down glass with a viscous residue.
Nose: Creamy and malty with toffee and faint orange peel, some dried apricot and honey. The nose has a dryness – maybe even a chalkyness, with a fruity sweetness underlying it. The empty glass smells of canned peaches.
Palate: full-bodied and very nutty, some citrus zest, with some fruit puree (probably the Gerber peach and apple). There’s a gentle spice, definitely with pepper but also little bit of a gentle clove, though not quite as strong of a wood spice influence you get in an Oloroso Sherry cask.
Linger: spicy on the tongue with the sweetness some faint dry fruit, top of the gullet has some spice in the insides of the cheeks are somewhat dry. The linger is medium in length.
Conclusion
This is a very pleasant every day dram. It’s an easy drinker, as you would expect from Glenmorangie, yet definitely gains a special character from the Amontillado sherry finish. Dryer and spicier than the Glenmorangie Original, this expression definitely stands on its own merit and for the $80 I paid for a 1 liter bottle, I think is a pretty good value for your money.