Home Reviews Glenmorangie The Original

Glenmorangie The Original

November 20, 2019 · By Jake Youst · 6.6 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
6.6 /10
Average
Score Breakdown
Complexity
6.5
Nose
6.3
Palate
6.7
Finish
6.2
Value
7.3
Consensus Score
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Nose
Palate
Finish
Complexity
Value
6.6
/ 10
Our Verdict
Average

The Original is the flagship whisky from Glenmorangie. It spends 10 years aging in ex-bourbon casks, is bottled at 80 proof, and costs around $36.

The Good

  • Price
  • Availability

The Bad

  • Finish
  • Nose
Glenmorangie The Original

A little background

Glenmorangie is a distillery based in the Highland region of Scotland. It was founded in 1843, and has been producing single malt scotch whisky ever since. The Original is their flagship offering, having been aged 10 years in ex-bourbon casks. It sits at a low 80 proof and can easily be found at an MSRP of around $36.

(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)

Color

Light Hay

Nose

Citrus and floral notes are present immediately. While not very strong, they make themselves known. A very strong scent of corn dominates the nose, not leaving much room for anything else. Green grapes is the last scent that I noticed.

Palate

The body has a medium viscosity  with notes of peat being noticed immediately. The peat is faint, leaving room for other notes such as a young pear, honey, butterscotch, and tannins.

Finish

The finish is medium with notes of peat, tannins, and vanilla. It is not a very pleasant finish, it is very bitter.

In closing

Overall, this is about what I would expect from a flagship whiskey. I am a huge fan of some of Glenmorangie’s other expressions, but this one just does not stand out as something that I would want to buy. The only thing I might use this for is cocktails. I would rather spend a few extra dollars and get a nicer better from them.

Glenmorangie The Original

80 Proof
6.6

Complexity

6.5/10

Nose

6.3/10

Palate

6.7/10

Finish

6.2/10

Value

7.3/10

The Good

  • Price
  • Availability

The Bad

  • Finish
  • Nose
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Glenmorangie Review Scotch Single Malt Single Malt Review

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Jake Youst
About the Author
Jake Youst
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 61 posts

Jake is a whiskey enthusiast who enjoys teaching others about bourbon and rye. Some of his favorite things to do are review different whiskies, go on barrel picks, and learn from the masters of the craft while at the distilleries. Outside of the whiskey world, Jake is an EMT and will soon start nursing school to become a Flight Nurse Practitioner. You can find/contact him on Instagram @thetipsybarkeep

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