This was a total shot in the dark. I was at the liquor store with a million sales going on, and I had to either choose to revisit an old friend (Oban, Ardbeg, Aberlour, Glendronach) or try something totally new.
The blog demanded fresh blood!! I have had about half of the current offerings from Glenmorangie, but not the port finished Quinta Ruben (the word means Ruby Farm, in a combination of Gaelic and Portuguese).
Previously having no age statement, this now proudly declares it's a dozen years old. Non-chill filtered, finished in ruby port casks, bottled at a healthy 46% ABV, a glorious dark russet color. I love port, I love scotch, do I love the two together?
Nose: Boy is this rich. Very strong raisin scent. Figs or dates (from the port). The port comes through intensely in a kind of vermouthy way - fortified red wine. Brown sugar by the bucketful. Malt, a la pecan pie or coffee cake. Cinnamon and other spices. A little blood orange. Very faint toasted coconut. Red and white grapes. Cherries, with the pits. And some oak as well. This is a very fully developed nose, heavy on the red fruit.
Mouthfeel: Silky, oily.
Palate: The cherry and raisin elements dominate here. The port is very pronounced as well. The spices also are very prevalent - cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice. If you let the glass sit and breathe, the dates hitch a ride, along with the blood orange. And dark chocolate! Overall, this is very very sweet, and could make an admirable dessert drink. Very smooth, very little alcohol burn.
Finish: Pepper, maybe raspberry, marshmallow, and cherry wood. Quite brief, but also very well balanced.
Verdict: This is quite a nice dram. Very balanced, full of flavor, just fruit galore, and a wonderful port note that really adds a lot of positives without adding any negatives. This is one of the most successful finishes I've ever encountered - maybe the most successful. At times it's like drinking actual port but with less sugar and more alcohol. I got this for $47, and it was well worth it. Huge win for Glenmorangie. Now I'm quite curious about La Santa, their sherry finish, which I haven't had in a long while.
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