GLENMORANGIE 1977 (2003 BOTTLING)

[Exciseman]

When in London, I always visit Wine & Spirits in the Food Hall of John Lewis, Oxford Street. Often, there's just a 'run of the mill' (albeit decent) selection of drams. But just occasionally, there's a gem to be had at a bargain price.

Last year, I picked up a bottle of the old-label/style "Glenmorangie 18yo" for just £40 (NB they still have it, but now at £60).

Earlier this year, I stumbled upon "Port Ellen 3rd Release" for just £115 (NB now all sold, several bottles seemingly to shop staff).

I knew instantly that the above two bottlings were 'no brainers'. But yesterday was different.

Yesterday, there were bottles of "Glenmorangie 1977" 21yo (presumably bottled circa 1998) in beautiful wooden presentation boxes for £90.

I had no idea whether or not this was a good price and no easy way of finding out. So, I hesitated to buy. In the end, I did dig out the plastic because the staff assured me that I could make a 'no quibble' refund return within a month (very generous!).

I've not been able to dig up much about this bottling. Did I get a bargain or did I pay 'over the odds'?

Any help gratefully received.

By the way, as a 4pm yesterday, there were 8 bottles left in store.

[Willie JJ]

It's hard to find an exact comparator, but it has the feel of a reasonable deal these days with the old 18yo going for £75 at TWE. TWE also have a 1977 in a nice wooden box, but they say it is 26yo. That is £175, although I can see it for £150 elsewhere.

[Exciseman]

Willie

Thanks. I've just looked at TWE's photo and it's the self-same one. I can only assume TWE have wrongly stated the age as 26yo instead of 21yo, as there's only a mention of a 21yo in Misako Udo's book.

Tim

[C57]

Yes I think it would be the 21yo

[Exciseman]

Yep, that's defo. the one.

Looks like it's worth keeping then.

[Tim F]

There have been at least two releases of GMG '77. The original 1990s release was a 21yo. The second release was around 2003, and this is why it has been labelled as a 26yo on TWE. I believe that if you study the label or the box it should have either an age or a bottling date. Either way £90 is a stone bargain, but obviously if it's the 21yo that's even better (it's supposedly a better whisky too).

[Tim F]

OK, I've checked our stock and there is a bottling date at the bottom of the front label saying Bottled in Scotland in 2003. Hence the 26yo. However, the box still says Twenty-One Years Old on the front, which is peculiar.

I might drop in and have a look in John Lewis this evening, although I really can't afford it. £90 is a very good price, though.

[Exciseman]

Mine were bottled in 2003 as well (making them 26 years old). However, the wood boxes state 21 year old.

John Lewis actually untaped a previously unopened case of 6 for me. So, I can only assume that Glenmorangie used spare boxes from the 1990s for the second bottling in 2003.

It would be good to know for sure though, as having a 26yo whisky in a "21yo" box is a bit weird.

Any Glenmorangie anoraks out there?

[C57]

If you can get an email address email Rachel...

[Tim F]

No need. If it's a 1977 vintage and it was bottled in 2003, it has to be 26 or 25 years old. The box is confusing, though. They can't have just had some left over for the second release as there were 5 years between the two releases and it's unlikely they over-ordered to the extent that they would have enough bottles left over for a release that they weren't necessarily going to repeat.

My guess is that some halfwit ordered the same boxes again without proof-reading properly.

[Exciseman]

No reply to the enquiry that I sent to Glenmorangie. Also, didn't get a promised call back after phoning. It will remain a mystery - the 26yo packaged in a 21yo box.

[Exciseman]

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM GLENMORANGIE:-

There was a bottling in 2003 (17th December 2003).

The Glenmorangie 1977 vintage was vatted from casks (distillation between April and June 1977) on 11 September 1998. Between this date and the bottling in 2003, there were several bottlings. A proportion of the whisky in the 2003 bottling had been stored in vat and a proportion returned to oak casks between 1998 and 2003. As vats are not made of oak, the time in vat cannot be added onto the maturation age of the whisky i.e. a proportion of the whisky can still only be called 21 years. Hence the whisky must still be called 21 years old, despite some of the whisky in its composition maturing for longer in oak casks (up to 26 years old).

[Tim F]

Very interesting - what a strange thing to do. Well done, exciseman.

[Willie JJ]

Makes perfect sense when you know the answer eh? Good job Tim.

[vitara7]

but of a stupid thing to do if you ask me, only vat some of a 21yo glenmorangie for a few years. surly would have made more sence to return to cask to age it more therefore increase the value of the product

[slojo]

Just picked up a bottle - seemed rude not to!

Thanks for the tip-off

[Exciseman]

A pleasure to help. It's a lovely presentation. The kind of thing that would make a lovely gift.

I do like the new-style Glenmorangie bottle designs and labelling. But I think that there was an old-school charm to these old bottles/labels.

[Exciseman]

Still 6 bottles left when I phoned on Friday.