Glenmorangie Astar

--- Neat ---

Nose: Vanilla cream, quickly joined by sharp lemon zest. The sharpness transforms to chilling menthol eucalyptus. If I really search, there is a weak fruit between dry bartlett pear and coconut, with powders of cinnamon and ginger. But mostly the cooling eucalyptus seems to endure.

Palate: Enters soapy mint over white pear, with a tangy punch. From this there builds feisty ginger with pleasant toffee sweetness. After the peak, these become white pepper and sharp almond. There is a lingering burn of red-hot cinnamon.

Finish: The burn eventually cools to dry menthol-anise on underripe pear. A minute later, there is raw cashew and a faint echo of coconut.

--- With water ---

Nose: Vanilla and menthol-anise.

Palate: Smooth caramel entrance. Eucalyptus coolness soon grows, and then bites like zest or pine. This becomes light ginger as caramel sweetly returns (which is the the best part). Nutty almond rises from the caramel, before menthol revisits for the finish.

Finish: Long cool anise and lemon zest, unripe pineapple and drying oak of vanilla & almond.

The Astar is, quite frankly, the first time that Connosr has let me down. I had gained expectations for a creamy and rich lemon-pineapple-coconut-honey treat; instead I find myself with an unbalanced malt that has far too much prickly eucalyptus (for my preferences). While I can enjoy this kind of menthol influence in certain bourbons and ryes, those usually have deeper flavors to compensate (e.g. brown sugar, banana). The Astar, however, is all light (lemon, pine), so it is altogether top-heavy. Purely "refreshing" flavors are welcome in my mouthwash but not in my scotch! The main attribute holding it together is the nutty caramel that appears midpalate.

The worst aspects are exacerbated at the bottled strength; for one of the first times, I believe this malt should have been bottled at 43%. My rating reflects the addition of water; otherwise I would rate the Astar at most 75 neat, without exaggerating my feelings. To turn lemons into lemonade, I could imagine using this as a very nice palate cleanser, either as an apertif or in between plates of a multi-course meal. (However, it should not be used during a whisky tasting flight, as the menthol will contaminate subsequent whiskies!)

I cannot compare this to anything else I have had, due to the above. If someone enjoyed this for the menthol, I would rather direct them to certain bourbons or ryes. If someone enjoyed it for the other light flavors, I would rather direct to something like the Arran Original or Mackmyra Brukswhisky. And I would unhesitatingly direct anyone to Glenmorangie's more recent Private Edition malt, the Ealanta, which also provides fruit and lightness, but with more cream and without the cool burn.

Legs: moderate, to be expected for a young whisky.

Color: Pale yellow.

Nose: Needs 15 minutes in the glass. After that, hints of vanilla nougat surface with a little oak. After 25 minutes: strong pear/bourbon influence comes through and mingles with the rest.

Taste: Heavy alcohol tang (not in a good way); pronounced pear and bourbon; La Florentine Torrone; bitter oak (unpleasant).

Finish: malt; bitter oak; a hint of honey.

Comments: This dram was a disappointment, clearly. I will not be buying a bottle of the Astar, after all.

Considering how thoughtfully Glenmorangie bought a stand of oak trees in the US, leased out the new barrels to a US bourbon distiller, and then used them for this whisky, I would call all of the effort pointless for such a young whisky. It is lost due to the young brash nature of this bottle. Too bad.

Color: sunburnt straw.

Nose: pineapple, clementines, and cherries. White chocolate. Honey drizzled in Greek yogurt. Champagne.

Body: full-bodied and creamy.

Palate: pow! This one's a punch in the mouth in the best possible sense. Like sucking on Fireball candies, followed by chocolates, followed by fruit and honey and vanilla and caramel and oatmeal, and I don't know what else, but I like it.

Finish: a smooth and lingering, sweet, spicy burn.

This gives the Nectar D'or a serious run for its money, and I think the cask strength ABV gives it the slight edge. Glenmorangie knows their wood.

The flavors in Glenmorangie Astar are light, but they are here in abundance, all well-preserved and articulated in their cask-strength glory. Think of a light, sweet Highlander pumped up on a Barry Bonds supply of steroids, and you’ll get the idea.

Nose, neat: Blasts of malt, vanilla, citrus, honey, nuts, pepper, cinnamon, and white wine. A surprising absence of booze burn for a 57% ABV whisky. I don’t get the floral notes that one associates with Glenmorangie, but I do get a slight trace of dust from time to time. Not enough to detract from the overall quality of the nose, however.

Taste, neat: As with most cask-strengthers, I take just a teeny sip neat, mainly to get an idea as to how much water to add. A good mouthful usually results in little more than burn and hiccups. This is surprisingly gentle on the arrival, with peppery spices dominating, but the flames start the longer you hold it in your mouth.

I think this can stand up to at least two or three spoons of water. Let’s give it a healthy splash and let it set a bit…

Nose: I don’t notice any new elements, although it’s cleaned up a bit (no more dust). It may have lost some heaviness, but it’s also become more crisp and articulate.

Taste: Now we’re into previously uncharted territory, with a long list of unanticipated flavors: apples, pears, cake frosting, butter, ginger, lemon, plus the aforementioned vanilla, honey, and nuts. The malt elements have virtually disappeared, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The finish is dry and a bit strange, in that the warmth lasts long, but the flavors run away rather quickly. Nevertheless, there’s too much going on in my mouth to complain.

It’s a unique whisky, to be sure. The flavors may be familiar, but their abundance, and the juxtaposition of so many contrasts, is one-of-a-kind. If you like a whisky worthy of thoughtful consideration, this is for you. But it’s also highly recommended for those who just like to drink and enjoy.

So when we had last left our intrepid heroes they had finally managed to get to the whisky bar Helvetica after months of being delayed due to sickness, public holidays, work conflicts and an emergency appendicitis.

So far in our story our heroes (my wife, myself, my brother and sister in laws) have finally met up and the whiskies that have been tried so far were Glenfarclas 12 yr old, Yamazaki 12 yr old, Hakushu 12 yr old, Glenmorangie Nectar D'or and Amrut Fusion. Next to be sampled!

Glenmorangie Astar.

I'd enjoyed the Nectar D'or, but thought that it should have been stronger to get the full pleasure from it.

My sister and brother in laws ask me for some recommendations while I order the Glenmorangie Astar, I suggest the Hakushu 12 yr old for my brother in law as he enjoys some smoke and the Balvenie 21 yr old Portwood for my sister in law. However when my sister in law sees the price on a shot of the Balvenie (34 dollars a shot) she goes a little wide eyed. I then suggest the Aberlour A'bunadh (19 dollars).

We order our drinks and my brother in law promptly exclaims that he enjoys the Hakushu immensely. My sister in law takes a sip of the A'bunadh as I tell her that she might want to add some water in it and promptly gasps. She then says she doesn't care for it. I again suggest that she add some water and see what that does. She does, but mainly leaves the Aberlour untouched.

My turn finally: Glenmorangie Astar!!

I finally get to nose the Astar and I'm blown away. It's like a desert in my nose. There's custard, vanilla, cinnamon, and lots and lots of fruit. My wife takes a nose and comes out with the same experience. This whisky smells heavenly. I can't wait to taste it, however my wife will not be joining me for a taste as she needs a break.

I bring the glass to my lips and gasp in pleasure. The flavors feel my mouth to the point that the whisky feels solid across my palate.

The flavors: Lots and lots of fruit once again, apples, pears, oranges with lots of honey and vanilla, some cinnamon. This is my new go to summer whisky!

The finish is long with the sweetness flowing through to the end.

This is an awesome whisky! My in laws each take a sip and say they enjoy it quite a bit.

I didn't cut this one with water, even though it was a much higher proof then the other whiskies as it didn't feel like it was needed. Very very enjoyable.

I need to pick up a bottle of this stuff, so much so that I asked my brother to buy me a bottle for my birthday. And at around $90 AUS a bottle it's a steal of a deal!!

Next up: Aberlour A'bunadh. (I hope my experience is better then my sister in laws)

Nose: Dessert, custard, cream, apple pie, spices (vinilla and cinnamon), white chocolate, sweet grains.

Palate: creme-brûlée, sweet, creamy, vinilla custard, ripe pears and pineapple, rich honeys.

Finish: Honey, apple crumble with cream, custard, tropical fruit, a pinch of mint, finishes spirity.

I did get the distinct image of a creme-brûlée when drinking this. Great whisky. Also note it has some spirity fire from its sizeable alcohol content.

The Astar is one of the few Glenmos that are bottled at cask strength. It is a vatting of so-called designer casks, from the Ozark Mountains. Astar is Gaelic for ‘the Journey’, referring to Dr Lumsden’s seach for these casks. They were are-dried for two years, heavily toasted, but only slightly charred. Despite the fact that there is no age statement on the bottle, insiders tell us it is around 10 years old. Anyway, enough lecturing, let us taste.

The nose is extremely sweet with a truckload of vanilla, lemon curd and light spices à la nutmeg and ginger. After a little while, I get some chocolate. Very fresh, but rather simple.

There is a good attack, thanks to the new oak, with white pepper and nutmeg. The aromas from the nose return, but are upholstered with Mirabelle (the very sweet, light orange prunes with shiny skin) and pears. A touch of caramel and coconut, too. Good body. Remains very sweet throughout.

The finish is rather long, but very dry. The fruit ebbs away and the wood takes its place.

This is, despite the simplicity, one of Glenmo’s finest. It has punch, which many of the standard Glenmorangie range lack a bit. About 60 EUR.

After a good dinner, I sit later relaxed behind my desk for write my second review today of my most gorgeous creation of Glenmorangie...

Yes, and I can tell you this is my most favourite Glenmorangie what I ever tasted yet. What Glenmorangie said that this dram have infleunces of crème brulee, it is. The nose tells me that there are a lot of spices, deep dark warm sweetness of roasted caramel and crème brulee. The taste is for me a bit strong but the tastefull sweetness comes fullbodied over. Tastes like vanilla, fruity as peach and orange, sugary and some citrus notes after. The finish is long but very complex, honey, menthol and anise like at the end.

For me is this a good after dinner whisky, like a 'Luxury Golden Fluid dessert'. I really recommend highly to any one, to try this fantastic dram. Especially for the people who love sweetness.

It is a 'Private Edition' of Glenmorangie, so I hope that there are some available. It is rare and hard to find a bottle. I'm glad that I have one.

I can sit more than a metre away from the glass and still smell this. Fruity, smooth and toffee sweet with a hint of spice - one of the best 'noses' I've come across in my admittedly limited experience.

The taste is creamy and fruity with an underlying vanilla/toffee sweetness. Really big flavour, but still silky smooth and easy to sip. Very long aftertaste, again fruity and sweet.

Fairly complex, meaning that every sip means you end up concentrating on some slightly different aspect, so every taste is different, but all of them are good.

A personal favourite, and in my opinion probably the best value single malt that I have ever come across.

Glenmorangie Original is a good basic dram, but Astar takes a giant leap upon its shoulders and becomes truly exceptional. Dr. Bill Lumsden, master distiller, says its all in the careful choice of woods for this star, but I have to say that having it at cask strength and unchill filtered has as much to do with its unique flavor as the wood when compared to the Original. Bold without relying on a heavy sherry or peaty influence. On the nose it is quite floral with heavy vanilla and coconut. On the palate it is very rich and custardy with some nuttiness and butteriness along with some slightly spicy elements of cinnamon

Nose: floral, honey, vanilla, coconut Palate: bright, citrus, almond 85-90