Is the Sonnalta PX Glenmorangie's best?

@vanPelt never had the Sonnalta PX, but would love to try it. I've heard it is outstanding. Of the Glenmos I have tried I rate them:

Signet

Nectar D'or

Quinta Ruban

18

Original

Astar

Lasanta

These are just my opinions. But to answer your two questions:

1) Is Sonnalta PX Glenmo's best? Of those that I have tried, yes. I rank them, PX, Artein, Signet, Ealanta, QR, Original, 18.

2) Explain the love. OK. It is not the sherry that you get in A'bunadh, Macallan 18 or Glendronach 12, 15, 18, that is for sure. It seems...different. And that may be what I find so compelling about it. Have you ever had a candy called Sugar Babies? It reminds me a lot of those. Sweet burnt carmel, flan. Not as much raison and chocolate. In short, those other bottles probably give a more profound sherried profile, but the taste of the PX agrees with me more.

Yes.

@vanPelt, are you asking this because you have never had Sonnalta PX, or because you have, and question why others prefer it to others which you like more? If you've never had any, best to try it yourself. How the hell can the internet words of any number of people substitute for your getting your own taste of it for yourself? They can't. I'll be happy to give you a taste of Sonnalta PX if you drop by here. I'll bet @Onibubba would too.

As for Glenmo preferences, you have to determine your own, of course. Mine are in the same order as @Onibubba's, though I haven't yet tasted Ealanta. I would also add Finealta just before 18 at the end, and Nectar d'Or just after Quinta Ruban. Nectar d'Or is ok once it opens up fully, but I much prefer Isle of Arran Sauternes Finish to it. I don't care for either Glenmorangie 18 or La Santa.

How much do I and my wife, Dramlette, like Sonnalta PX? My wife, with my concurrence, likes Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX enough for us to have named one of our cars after it. A Sonata named Sonnalta. Yes, we usually name our cars.

A parenthetical note about Artein and Signet. I have found Artein to start well immediately and to stay consistent for long periods of time after the bottle is opened. Signet needs maybe a few weeks of opening time, then blooms for a few months, then dries out and turns a bit astringent. In its lush sweet period, Signet is magnificent, and I prefer it to Artein, and maybe even Sonnalta PX. But that sweet period doesn't last long, and if you buy a Signet sample at a bar, it is not likely to be at its best.

Really thanks for the replies so far! @Victor, Your car-naming is quite convincing (although pet or child-naming would really seal the deal). An amusing anecdote.

Anyway, No I have not tasted the Sonnalta PX. I am deciding on a purchase; and as others have noted, the Sonnalta has become hard to find or quite expensive. (I wondered whether some high scores reflect its previous lower price.) I would love to take you up on the tasting, although I will not be in the area soon. So my hope is that comparisons (to others I've tried) will indicate whether I would find it worth buying. jwise suggested 3 similar malts in his review, so I wonder whether others agree.

@Onibubba 's response is a great example-- Thanks Onibubba! Since many sherried malts do have that raisin/chocolate, I can imagine subtracting some of that, and adding Sugar Babies (I think I last had those in the 80s... I kind of miss them). Actually, just hearing that the Sonnalta PX has a truly unique flavor set makes it all the more appealing.

It would still be interesting to hear what other malt is "the closest", if that is even possible....

@vanPelt, a pet or child named "Liberal" or "Generous" might tend to put on too much weight. A name to grow into. No children here. No pets here, except each other, so cars are all we have to name.

Closer to you, maybe drop @maltster down in Vienna a line. He might be willing to give you a dram of Sonnalta PX.

Sonnalta PX does not "wow" me like a knock you over cask strength sort of dram. It is just very enjoyable, and I have found in giving many tastings that it is probably the most universally well-liked whisk(e)y of all genres which I have given to my tasters. Almost everyone likes it, and most like it quite a lot.

There is still some of it floating around, though it is quite scarce now. We picked up a bottle 6 weeks ago under $ 75 at a Canadian Duty Free shop.

@vanPelt: I'm sure most Glenmorangie Spirit is pretty much the same at the stills - Where the subtle differences occur are in the casks chosen for maturation: In the case of Sonnalta PX. The name says it all with the PX being a direct reference to the Pedro Ximenez Casks used for a final maturation - The not so subtle difference in this Whisky is from the 'Dessert' (read residual sugar) style of these Wines and gives a quite different flavor profile to the usual sherried editions; Quinta Ruban is also a different flavor due to the spicy port casks. Some of the early Quinta Ruban expressions were sensational, less sweet, rather spicy, and a big favorite at my place!