Glenmorangie 18 Year Old (1990s Edition)
70cl / 43%
£199.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
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An elegant 18-year-old Highland malt from Glenmorangie’s pre-2000s era, marrying long bourbon maturation with a final Oloroso finish.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Glenmorangie Distillery (Official Bottling) / Scotland (Highland Single Malt) |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 18 Years Old / Distilled pre-1980s / Bottled 1990s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 43% ABV / 70cl (common) or 75cl (duty free/export) |
| Cask / Treatment | 15 years in American white oak (ex-bourbon) then c. 30% re-racked to Oloroso sherry casks for 3 years, reunited before bottling |
| Natural Colour | No (colouring used) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | No (chill filtered) |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (core premium expression of the era) |
| Intended channel | Global high-end retail / duty-free |
| Packaging | Older-style Glenmorangie bottle and carton/tube, often marked “Extremely Rare” |
| Notes on discrepancies | 1990s presentation precedes later rebrand; 75cl export exists and is slightly rarer |
Historical Context
Glenmorangie’s reputation for light, floral, precise spirit comes from its tall stills and high cut. By the 1990s it had also become one of the earliest champions of cask finishing. The 18 Year Old sat above the 10 and 15, and was marketed as “Extremely Rare.” The technique was distinctive: keep most of the whisky in its original bourbon casks for the full 18 years, but move about 30% into Oloroso sherry wood for the final three. Reuniting the parcels just before bottling gave the finished malt a richer, raisiny, nutty layer while preserving Glenmorangie’s trademark citrus-honey core. Because the 1990s liquid was distilled in the 1970s/early 1980s, many buyers regard it as slightly more old-school than later bottlings.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
This is a 43% ABV, 18-year-old Highland single malt, part-bourbon, part-Oloroso in its final stage. Chill-filtered, coloured, and intended as a premium but regular offering.
Documented variants
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43% ABV, 70cl, 1990s “Extremely Rare” presentation, UK/EU.
-
43% ABV, 75cl, 1990s duty-free/export presentation.
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All follow the same two-stage maturation regime.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43% | 70cl | UK/EU retail | 1990s “Extremely Rare” carton | High |
| 43% | 75cl | Duty free/export | 1990s label, larger size | Highest (rarer format) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Label should show 18 Years Old and the older Glenmorangie script.
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Look for “Extremely Rare” wording on carton/bottle.
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Check fill – should be high shoulder/into neck at 43%.
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Distinguish from modern 18, which has updated packaging.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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18 Years Old is a legal minimum.
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Standard practice of the period was E150a and chill filtration; do not claim NCF or natural colour.
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“Finished” here means partial reracking for 3 years.
Liquid Profile
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Nose: Dried fruits, heather honey, floral notes, vanilla, toasted almond, gentle oak.
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Palate: Silky, rounded, caramelised orange, toffee, dark chocolate, spiced fruitcake; sherry portion adds raisiny sweetness, bourbon portion adds creaminess.
-
Finish: Long, refined, warming spice, nuts, honeyed oak.
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With water: Not recommended at 43%.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Original RRP (1990s): not stated, historically c. £40–£50.
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Current UK retail (vintage specialists): about £275.00 for a clean 1990s bottle with presentation.
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UK/EU auction corridor: £180.00–£250.00 depending on box and fill.
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Stratification: 75cl duty-free and mint box at the top; 70cl with worn tube mid; bottle-only at auction level.
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Liquidity: moderate; appears regularly enough that pricing has a stable band.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | Recent | 70cl, 43%, 1990s, boxed | 275 | Specialist vintage stockist |
| Auction | Recent | 70cl, 43%, 1990s, boxed | 250 | Strong condition |
| Auction | Recent | 70cl, 43%, 1990s, no box | 180 | Average condition |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Glenmorangie used this expression to show off the intersection of its very clean spirit and its maturing expertise. The 1990s editions are a reference point for how the 18 was originally conceived.
Sourcing
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Prefer 75cl duty-free or immaculate 70cl “Extremely Rare.”
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Avoid low fill or label mismatch with modern packaging.
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Boxed examples can be marked 20–30% above bottle-only.
