Glenmorangie Astar Review

Back in 2008, Glenmorangie helped to push the popularity of high end no age statement (NAS) single malt whiskies with the release of two new expressions—Signet and Astar. While Signet, a single malt known for its use of chocolate barley malt, has stuck around ever since it’s initial release, Astar was discontinued in 2012, apparently due to a shortage in the type of casks Glenmorangie was using to age the whisky. But in 2017, Glenmorangie re-released Astar in limited quantities to a good bit of fanfare.

Glenmorangie makes a big deal about the “bespoke” casks used to age Astar. According to their marketing, Astar was aged in casks “hewn from hand-selected slow-grown oak trees from the Ozark mountains of Missouri, and meticulously crafted to exacting specifications, to ensure they impart their maximum flavour to our delicate Highland spirit.” I’m not sure how exactly that makes them different from standard ex-bourbon barrels, seeing as much of the oak used to age bourbon comes from the same region, but Glenmorangie seems to think there’s a difference.

I wasn’t planning to buy a bottle of Astar, since its concept sounded to me like mostly marketing fluff, but one of my favorite local stores had a tasting bottle open to promote it, so of course I tried a sample in the store. I was pleasantly surprised upon first sip, as I was hit with an explosion of toasted marshmallow and pineapple, a combination of notes I find quite enjoyable. I walked out of the store with a bottle in hand.

Glenmorangie Astar Review (2017 Release) 

Type: Single Malt Scotch
Region: Highlands
ABV: 52.5%
Non chill-filtered

Nose

Marshmallow. Vanilla. Caramel. Grilled pineapple. Peppermint candy. Wood varnish. Charred oak. Chocolate. Astringent bourbon. Lemongrass. Wheat ale.

Palate

Toasted marshmallow. A smorgasbord of dried tropical fruits, including pineapple (especially pineapple), mango, papaya, and coconut. Banana pudding with vanilla wafers. Liquid caramel. Vanilla extract. Dry, astringent oak. Orange zest. Sour lemon candy. Cognac. Cocoa powder. Gummy candies. The mouthfeel is creamy and full, quite lovely.

Finish

Medium to long. The gooey insides of a toasted marshmallow. Custard. Burnt caramel. Lemon candy. Banana pudding. Chocolate malt.

Overall

Big and bold with loads of fruit and bourbon oak influence, Glenmorangie Astar is a one of those drams that’s simply fun to drink, especially for whisky fans who enjoy sweeter single malts driven by American oak. Although I’m skeptical that the casks used to age Astar are really anything other than standard, high quality, first fill ex-bourbon barrels, the barrels certainly do exert quite a strong influence on the malt. There’s enough bourbon influence that I could almost believe that someone added a few drops of bourbon into my bottle. Nonetheless, it’s the toasted marshmallow, tropical fruits, and banana pudding notes that really stand out on the palate and make this a very enjoyable whisky.

SCORE: 88/100

Final Thoughts

I like Astar, but I could see it being a polarizing dram. It’s a bit uneven at times and not something I would expect every whisky drinker to love. It’s certainly bigger and bolder than your average Glenmorangie. I’ve found that I alternate between thinking Astar is great and thinking it’s overpriced and perhaps overrated (by my own rating) from session to session, depending largely on my mood. But on nights when I’ve really focused on this dram, I’ve really enjoyed it.

You could almost describe Astar as being  a “bourbon bomb” in the same vein as some single malts are described as being sherry bombs. If you enjoy a bold, sweet, American oak-driven (but not over-oaked) malt with a ton of tropical fruits and toasted marshmallow, then I think you’ll like Astar.

Buy Again? Maybe. I really enjoy Astar. It’s a fun drinking experience. But it’s also $99 for an NAS whisky that’s probably only around 10 years of age. In other words, it’s not terribly good value for money (although it is priced in line with other NAS limited releases, such as Macallan Classic Cut). Nonetheless, I do enjoy and recommend Astar, and I may end up buying another bottle. But if you can, I suggest trying a sample before buying a bottle.

Drink This Not That: If you’re looking for a bourbon-wood influenced malt with plenty of tropical fruit notes, drink this. Also if you’re looking to convert a bourbon-loving friend to single malt scotch, Astar might be a pretty good place to start.

Questions about my scoring system? Refer to the Review Method & Scoring Scale page.

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