Glenmorangie Astar / 57.1% / 1.0l

Glenmorangie Astar is another creation of Bill Lumsden. It debuted in 2008 with the creator's note:

“the palette of this whisky is the result of the influence of white American oak, slowly grown, air-dried, then heavily toasted and lightly charred and used to mature the bourbon.” Astar is bottled at 100 proof (57.1% abv) and although the label does not state its age, it has been aged for 9-10 years. Astar means “journey” in Gaelic and indeed the oak has travelled 5,000 miles from the Ozarks to the northern Highlands. A year after its debut, Glenmorangie Astar was awarded a gold medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition .

Nose: a wave of vanilla, toffee, caramel, coconut flakes, notes of cinnamon and anise, lemon peel, walnuts, peaches and toasted oak.

Taste: pleasantly balanced, vanilla cream, crème brûlée, pineapples, pears and peaches, traces of cocoa, cinnamon, ginger and oak.

Finish: long and soft, honey-roasted almonds, vanilla, a bit of anise and a delicate oak bitterness.