What a difference a cask makes: Tuesday, Jan. 25 is Glenmorangie tasting night at Reserve 101, Houston’s premier fine whiskey and cocktail bar, located downtown at the corner of Caroline and Dallas across from House of Blues.

Starting at 6 p.m., the Glenmorangie Scotch tasting will be conducted by Reserve 101 co-owner and fine whiskey connoisseur Mike Raymond and will feature four of the distillery’s single-malt Highland products: Glenmorangie Original; Lasanta; Nectar D’Or; and Quinta Ruban.

"Our selections for the tasting emphasize the flavor, depth and character of wood-finish aging," says Raymond. "We’ll start with the Original Glenmorangie Highland single malt, then follow with the same product finished the last two years in barrels that previously contained different wines: Quinta Ruban, aged in port wine casks from Portugal; Lasanta, aged in sherry casks from Spain; and Nectar D’Or, aged in Sauternes casks from France."

Glenmorangie Distillery, founded in 1843 and located in the North Sea village of Tain, operates the tallest stills in Scotland at nearly 17 feet. Tall stills produce smoother, purer whiskey, because only the lightest vapors reach the top for condensation into spirits. The "spirit cut" is then matured in American white oak casks for at least 10 years, after which some products are finished in wine casks to add subtle flavors.

More information about the Jan. 25th tasting is available on the bar’s web site at http://www.Reserve101.com. February’s Tuesday Tastings will feature Woodford Reserve super-premium Kentucky bourbon on the 1st, Glenfiddich Scotch on the 8th, A.H. Hirsch Bourbon on the 15th and Maker’s Mark American Whiskey on the 22nd.

Reserve 101, Houston’s premier whiskey bar, specializes in premium whiskeys, offering over 130 varieties, plus Martinis and other cocktails, wine and beer. The bar makes its own unique infusions, blending whiskey and other liquors with such exotic ingredients as pecans and cinnamon, apples, peaches, peppers and other flavors selected by Raymond and co-owner Steve Long.