Travel retail to me are the experimental grounds where distillers introduce some of their new releases amongst a smaller subset of consumers giving them the advantage of understanding consumer appetites’ before being released into the general public. But on the flip, explains why travel retain releases do not garner much hype as many a times they tend to be nothing beyond mundane.

Now, it wasn’t long ago that I got the chance to try out The Elementa; the second of a triseries of expressions from the Glenmorangie distillery that was released exclusively for travel retail to celebrate cask finishing and its effect on the whisky. A recent travel brought the opportunity to try the Accord, the youngest of the lot, matured for not less than 12 years and dressed in a beautiful sherry red with all the traditional shapes and contours. This expression takes a step down approach from the Elementa, bringing focus on the actual marriage of casks and how it breathes soul to the spirit.

The Accord is made from a marriage of whiskies that have been aged in a combination of ex-bourbon cases and oloroso sherry casks before being bottled in all it’s rich, golden tawny hue. Having said that, the more than usual tawny tinge to the spirit is unusual and indicates the presence of artificial colouring.

ABV : 43%

Eye : Tawny | Artificial Colouring

Nose : Vanilla, char and Rose wine, rum and raisins, plums wood, sundried tomatoes, cinnamon, and pepper

Taste : Vanilla with a dry feel on the palate, red wine and raisins, hints of charred melons, a hint of orange zest, dark chocolate and cinnamon with  mild brine and woody notes.

Finish : Rich red wine, dark choc and vanilla

For a whisky that adores and shines red, this one delivers well; with layers of wine influenced flavours exhibiting complexity and an added dryness on the palate. It’s got savoury, sweet and deep lush nuances with the punch more so on the nose while the flavours on the palate descend into darkness quickly – a bit of a let down. Also while I did enjoy the sherry there wasn’t a lot of other notes that were popping in and out. It had breadth but wasn’t able to follow suite with the depth and hence the rather lacklustre.

I love Glenmorangie and I so loved the Elementa, the middle brother from this particular travel retail range of expressions. For one that loves the sherry, this is well worth the try but for someone who wants a bit of everything, the Accord did let me down with its largely one dimensional profile. At AUD $135, it’s not one I’d actively purchase off the stores as it didn’t really have much of a memorable story to brag about !

Slainte!