Glenmorangie – 18 Year Old Extremely Rare Azuma Makoto (70cl, 43%)

This is an 18 year old Glenmorangie single malt, bottled at 43% ABV in a 70cl bottle. The bottle design, called Dancing Flowers of Glenmorangie, is by the Japanese floral artist Azuma Makoto, who was taken with the scents of the whisky. The release totalled 30,000 bottles in 2021. The whisky spent 15 years in bourbon casks, then a further three years in oloroso sherry casks. In the tasting notes it is a warm, rich gold. The nose is floral and sweet with dried fruit, the palate has honey, malt, dates and figs with a hint of wood smoke, and the finish is long, with dried fruit and a dry oloroso nuttiness.