NEW WHISKIES EARLY 2024

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GLENGLASSAUGH SANDEND HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Whisky Of The Year 2023

Situated just outside the village of Portsoy, Glenglassaugh initially looks to be a pretty traditional setup with an open-topped rake and plough mash tun, wooden washbacks and two stills. The presence of two stainless steel washbacks, part of a 1966 refurbishment alters the impression that little has changed. The new style is medium weight and very fruity with a heavy honeyed floral character. Some peated spirit (35 ppm) is also made.

GLENGLASSAUGH HISTORY

A late-Victorian distillery, Glenglassaugh was built in 1874 by local grocer James Moir and his two nephews, Alexander and William Morrison, in Portsoy village. The area was locally known as the site of many underground distilleries producing some of the nation’s best whisky at the time, and the specific location of the Glenglassaugh distillery — on high ground, overlooking the North Sea — was chosen for its proximity to nearby barley fields and the refined, clean waters of the Glassaugh Springs.18 years later, it became part of Highland Distillers. A downturn in the market saw it close in 1907 and not re-open until 1960, when once again the market was showing a sharp increase.

Blenders however found it a difficult customer, one of those highly individual malts which didn’t rub along particularly well with other elements in a blend. Had the single malt market been up and running in the 1970s its story might be very different, but its sheer awkwardness meant it was deemed surplus to Highland’s requirements when the whisky loch was filling in the early 1980s and firms were rationalising their estates. When it closed in 1986, people just sighed and forgot about it; no-one thought it would ever re-open.

But then, it did. In 2008, a Russian-financed firm bought the plant, refurbished the distillery and restarted production. After releasing some of the remaining pre-1986 stock of bottles to roaring acclaim (see Addendum infra), the distillery began producing experimental spirits with a focus on expressions with no age statement, notably “The Spirit Drink That Dare Not Speak Its Name” and “The Spirit Drink that Blushes To Speak Its Name.” (Neither of those bottles were whiskies, but mashes of malted barley that were fermented, distilled twice, and bottled at 50% ABV without ageing. The latter spent six months maturing in red wine casks, imparting a rose-colored hue to the spirit.) Though admittedly strange spirits to come out of a Scotch distillery, these two long-winded labels foreshadowed the experimentation that would be seen from Glenglassaugh down the line. Nonetheless, the distillery changed hands when Benriach Distillery Company purchased it in 2013, and then Brown-Forman, owner of Jack Daniel’s, bought Benriach and all of its subsidiaries in 2016.

Glenglassaugh is admittedly the least known of Brown-Forman’s three Scotch brands, due at least in part to the distillery’s long periods of dormancy and repeated tinkering with expressions and packaging since 2016. But perhaps that lack of mainstream recognition could be what’s allowed the distillery to become so experimental in recent years. If Sandend Highland Single Malt is hard proof of Glenglassaugh master blender Rachel Barrie’s prowess, we can’t wait to experience the other non-age-statement Highland single malts she may produce down the line.

In 2023, a brand new core range was ready! The distillery sits nestled behind the beautiful surfer's haven, Sandend Bay. Master blender Rachel Barrie has fond childhood memories of time spent at Sandend and now the bay is honoured in the form of this unpeated single malt. Matured in a combo of bourbon, sherry, and manzanilla casks, it's bursting with notes of tropical fruit and tablet, with delicate coastal salinity in the distance.

Regardless of clout and circumstance, Glenglassaugh’s 2023 expressions ascended to a new level. While the flagship 12 YO was certainly enjoyable, the Sandend Highland Single Malt was the bottle that was truly captivating. From its fruit-driven nose and punchy ABV to its warming finish and kiss of salinity, this spirit marks an exciting new direction in Scotch where age statements play second fiddle to experimentation and discovery. Cheers to the team at Glenglassaugh, and to a promising rebirth of a storied distillery.

In the world of Scotch, more emphasis is usually placed on age than alcohol content, but Glenglassaugh’s Sandend Highland Single Malt challenges that concept. At an even-keeled 50.5 percent ABV with no age statement given, this whisky is testament to the promising experimental Scotch whiskies often overlooked in favour of the aged, assertive expressions that have dominated the space for years. Just to set doubters at ease, the Sandend was chosen The Whisky Professor's Whisky Of The Year 2023!

                           

TASTING NOTES: 70Cl, 50.5% ABV, NAS, £55

ON THE EYE: Bright golden hue.

NOSE: Delightful notes of buttery fudge, vanilla ice cream, candied mango, and salted papaya.

PALATE: Mango and toasted vanilla trickle throughout, backed by boiled pineapple sweeties and creamy barley.

FINISH: Grapefruit and juicy berries, more vanilla and butterscotch, and a distant coastal breeze.

SUMMATION: Not only is this an exceptional bottle from a craft perspective, but it also marks Glenglassaugh’s successful 21st-century push into the world of fine Scotch. 

ADDENDUM: GLENGLASSAUGH UNVEILS RARE SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

The casks available are all from the 1970-1986 period. In January this year, Glenglassaugh distillery launched its new Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection, featuring three old and rare cask bottlings. Each release from this collection is over 48 years old, capturing the spirit of Highland whisky. The collection takes its name from the serpentine marble found in the cliffs surrounding the distillery.

The inaugural three releases in the collection include:

• 1.   Glenglassaugh Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection 48 Year Old (46.1% ABV), a single malt Scotch whisky distilled on May 28, 1974, and matured in an Aleatico Red wine barrique.

• 2.   Glenglassaugh Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection 49 Year Old (42.1% ABV), a single malt Scotch whisky distilled on November 9, 1973, and matured in a Bourbon barrel.

• 3.   Glenglassaugh Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection 51 Year Old (44.2% ABV), a single malt Scotch whisky distilled on October 25, 1972, and matured in an Oloroso Sherry puncheon.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Glenglassaugh Distillery dwelt on the launch, stressing that the legacy of their most sought-after casks dated back to the 1970s and the sheer rarity of finding casks matured in coastal locations for such extended periods. Their warehouses overlooking Sandend Bay have safeguarded this old and rare liquid for over five decades.

The three whiskies are currently available in Singapore, with plans for global distribution in the coming spring. The respective recommended retail prices are £7,500, £8,300, and £10,600. Further releases from the collection will be announced later this year.

 

LONGMORN: SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERY

BEHIND THE SOMETHING SPECIAL FAMILY

Longmorn has quietly provided a sweet and deeply fruity component to a multiplicity of blends since its founding. Its ferments are long, the distillation takes place in eight thick-necked stills, giving a make which is weighty enough to age well in both ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon.

THE LONGMORN STORY

From a time of industrial and creative revolution followed by nearly 130 years of ceaseless ambition staying true to the origins of the iconic Speyside Style, Longmorn has waited for its time to come.

Longmorn’s founder John Duff laid the foundation for a legendary vision, a product that travelled well beyond the cask. Having matured at the height of industrial and creative revolution, Longmorn Distillery represents the embodiment of the adventurous spirit and ambition of its founder, who himself was inspired by this time of immense innovation. 

It was this obstinate ambition that compelled John Duff to build Longmorn its own railway to import ingredients and export its product worldwide. And it is out of loyalty to these long-standing, time-honoured principles that throughout its history, amongst enormous societal change and upheaval, Longmorn’s quiet dedication to its liquid has withstood the tests of time.

Embodying an unwavering faith in its process, remaining constant and unrelenting, sharing an unrivaled taste and story to match. A reverence for its roots lies at the heart of Longmorn’s unimpeachable heritage. It is the truest to the classic Speyside Style, an icon of its origins and a legend of its land, authentically upholding an enduring ethos with an unrivalled integrity. Drawing water from deep under their distillery’s doors, the soul of Speyside runs through every drop.

Longmorn’s history is one of endless expertise. But it is an expertise that has been earned the hard way through the ambitious innovation and experimentation of its pivotal pioneers of the past: from the globetrotting entrepreneurial founder, to the architect inspired by design from distant lands, to the Speyside apprentice who became the master of Japanese whisky! Longmorn tells a story of proven masters committed to their craft.

Longmorn has been available as a single malt since the launch of a 15-year-old in 1993, a bottling which sported a slightly fantastic label showing the distillery nestled in the midst of rugged peaks – it’s on the flatlands near Elgin. It has been prominent in Blended Scotch, with Chivas Bros using it prolifically.

The 15 YO was replaced by an extravagantly packaged 16 YO in 2007, but the needs of blenders have meant that, even with increased production, the vast bulk of Longmorn is ring-fenced, with a single-cask offering part of Chivas Brothers’ Cask Strength series. It is, deservedly so, a regular sight on independent bottlers’ lists and has consequently built up a cult following, particularly in Japan.

The tours and travels of John Duff, one of the 19th century’s most interesting whisky entrepreneurs who designed Glenlossie in 1876, saw him overseas to learn for himself techniques and traditions in South Africa and the USA and return home and build Longmorn in 1893. Five years after he built another plant next door – Benriach. In 1899 he sold out to James Grant. Although Duff’s business was not technically sound, given his mixed enterprise, his whisky was and by the start of the 20th century Longmorn was a prize malt, used in a variety of blends including VAT 69 and Dewar’s.

In 1970, the Grant family and blender Hill Thompson of Something Special fame, (which has a long relationship with Longmorn) merged with The Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd to create The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd. This was bought by Seagram in 1977 and (minus Glen Grant) is now part of Chivas Brothers.

THE COLLECTION

Longmorn’s story is long and complex, but the inevitable conclusion has always been the same: the perfect Speyside malt. From the warmth of American oak to its creamy toffee profile, Longmorn epitomises the signature Speyside style. Beloved by those in the know and unmatched in its refinement and flavour, true to itself, and true to its iconic home.

18 YO: 2023 ANNUAL RELEASE

A sought-after single malt, the truest to Speyside’s iconic flavour profile. Longmorn’s 2023 annual release 18 year old was aged in barrels and hogsheads. A single batch single malt whisky, produced at one moment in time to capture their signature style.

This whisky reveals rich tasting notes of toffee apples, apricots and fresh tropical fruit before a subtly sweet finish of creamy milk chocolate.

22 YO: 2023 ANNUAL RELEASE

Further matured, further refined, further perfected to create a rich depth that expands upon that classic Speyside style. Longmorn’s 2023 annual release 22 year old was aged in a carefully curated selection of barrels and hogsheads. A single batch single malt whisky, produced at one moment in time to capture the depth and complexity of their signature style.

This rare single malt balances tasting notes of hazelnut praline and luscious toffee with delicate citrus and poached pears for a sweet and smooth finish.

Longmorn went on to releases its ultra-premium Scotch in the U.S. in February 2024. It's not often that a 130-year-old Scotch whisky brand makes its first appearance in the U.S., the distinction from Chivas Regal which made its global debut there in 1909 as the world’s most luxurious and ultra-premium 25 YO Scotch and 1939, when the 12 YO made its own global debut there.

Longmorn celebrated its long, distinguished history with its first two stateside releases. Rather than start with young expressions, the Speysiders launched an 18-Year-Old ($310) and a 22-Year-Old ($430), giving the brand immediate weight in a less crowded space. Both bottlings are non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength (57.6 percent ABV and 54.5 percent ABV, respectively). Having had an opportunity to try each, both are a hit—each revelling in the brand's signature “creamy toffee” flavours.

In addition to signifying Longmorn’s commitment to releasing only single malts aged 18 years or more, the 18-Year-Old and 22-Year-Old expressions mark the debut of an elevated new look for the 130-year-old brand, the company notes. The new design will be reflected across the Longmorn portfolio and each permanent release, introducing consumers to the complex history of Longmorn and their signature Speyside style of whisky with each pour, it says.

The 18-Year-Old reveals the best of both Speyside and Longmorn, balancing those rich toffee notes with the region’s iconic orchard fruits, as well as milk chocolate. The 22-Year-Old has even more depth, with hints of hazelnut joining the blend of toffee, pear, apple, and citrus.

Moving forward, Longmorn will embrace vintages, with plans to release a new, small batch of whiskies every year. As for 2024, there is plenty of excitement with the brand's first two offerings in the U.S.—a spectacular pair of bottles, and, apparently, only the beginning.

Comparison: With these two releases, Longmorn explores the depth and complexity that comes with careful ageing. The whiskies are non-chill filtered, aged mostly in American oak casks, presumably ex-bourbon and bottled at cask strength. The new releases also received snazzy new bottles decked out in royal purple and gold. They definitely look sharp on a home bar.

Tasting these two expressions side-by-side is a great way to explore the effects a few extra years have on the same juice. The 18-year is rich and velvety on the intake, with up-front aromatics of chocolate, toffee and soft oak. It’s full bodied and chewy on the mid-palate, with notes of milk chocolate, oak, vanilla, and green apple. The long finish is spicier, but with the chocolate overlay. With just a few more years on it, the 22-year tastes completely different. There is an oak brashness that dominates, with a more vegetal, leather, ripe stone fruit complexity. Notes of almond appear on both the nose and palate, and the long dry finish is rich with cooked pear, oak, white pepper, toffee, and walnut. Not over-keen on its woodiness, I’d go for the 18 YO.

                           

DEANSTON 15 YEAR OLD TEQUILA CASK FINISH

Fruity, floral and citrus

HISTORY: Deanston Highland Distillery

Even though it was built in the late 1960s, Deanston has retained some old-style features in kit and distilling regime.

Its mash tun is open-topped for example, while the way it is run – low gravity worts, long fermentation, slow distillation – helps to produce a new make style which is in the waxy quadrant. This represents a switch back to the original style. In the Invergordon era, Deanston had conformed to a modern style of production, making a light dry ‘nutty-spicy’ make.

Today organic barley is also run through the stills and, in common with all of Burn Stewart’s single malts, it is bottled without chill-filtering or caramel tinting.

There are many distilleries in Scotland which started life as mills, but none of them had quite the scale of Deanston. This huge plant was constructed on the banks of the fast-flowing River Teith in 1785 by Richard Arkwright who used it as one of the sites for the development of the Spinning Jenny. It also had what was claimed to be the largest water wheel in Europe.

Weaving continued here until 1964 when the buildings were bought by Brodie Hepburn. Production started in 1969, but its original owners only had it for three years before the company was bought by private label specialist Invergordon. It ran for a decade before the ‘80s whisky slump forced its owner to shut it down. Eight years later, it was bought for £2.1m by Burn Stewart.

It can claim to be one of the greenest distilleries in Scotland. All of its power is generated by a turbine house which processes 20 million litres of water an hour. The excess electricity is then sold to the National Grid.

Although single malt bottlings started relatively early – in 1974 – it is only recently that Deanston has been elevated to a front-line single malt brand.

The 15 YO Tequila Cask Finish is an experimental, limited-edition release. This 15-year-old celebrates spirit with true Highland character. Finished in hand-selected casks that once held Agave Tequila from the Jaliscan Highlands in Mexico, this is a fruity, floral dram with sweet, warming notes.

Deanston's uniquely waxy, citrus character is incredibly flexible and adaptable. This distinctive characteristic makes it the perfect single malt for experimentation and maturation in different cask types, such as tequila. Both tequila and single malt scotch whisky are highly protected and regulated, crafted using hands-on production methods, come in an array of colours, and have five regions which impact flavour profile.

WHISKY PROFILE:  70 Cl,  52.5% ABV,  Non Chill-filtered,  Unpeated

Cask Information: Deanston single malt, from the Scottish Highlands, is matured in traditional Oak hogsheads for 13 years and finished in hand selected casks that once held Agave Tequila from the Jaliscan Highlands, Mexico, for a further 2 years.

Natural Colour: With no added colour, the liquid maintains its pale gold hue, showcasing the maturation process and the impact of the cask.

Non-Chill Filtered: All Deanston whiskies are non-chill filtered to maintain the whisky's integrity and preserve its uniquely waxy character.

Taste: Fruity, floral notes from the tequila casks compliment the versatile, waxy, citrus character of Deanston. A fresh fruity burst on the nose. Sweet, rich, dry on the palate. Warming spice and sweetness of caramelised agave.

Always Unpeated: Always unpeated, locally sourced barley from the Highlands of Scotland.

Uniquely Waxy: Our traditional methods create a uniquely waxy whisky that is brimming with flavour progression on the palette.

NOSE: Fresh. Notes of ripe pineapple, crème brûlée, mixed nuts and light oak.

PALATE: Rich, yet dry on the palate. Bursting with flavours of caramelised agave, toasted almonds, baked apples with custard and warming spice.

FINISH: Long finish with brown spice and sweet, citrus bursts.

GLENLIVET 12 YO FIRST-FILL AMERICAN OAK

200th Anniversary

This celebratory single malt comprises first fill American oak casks, hand-picked to celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Glenlivet. The fruity, lightly tropical character that made this Speyside distillery famous is present and correct with some added vanilla, coconut and almond notes from that good-quality white oak. A fitting way to mark the bicentenary of one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries.

200 YEARS AND COUNTING

The 1823 Excise Act triggered an explosion in the whisky industry. After more than a century evading the King’s justice, the pioneers of Scottish distilling were then able to gain a license to ply their trade. The required fee of £10, and the more agreeable rate of tax than ever before, was enough to lure scores of whisky makers to the right side of the law. Once paid up, they could secure investment, expand operations and plan for the future. Among the first to sign a license was a farmer named George Smith from Upper Drummin in the Livet valley – the Glen Livet.

THE GLENLIVET

As a legitimate businessman, Smith became a leader in the emergent industry of Highland distilling. Even in those early days his spirit had a serious reputation among drinkers, who prized its fruity and elegant character. At this time there were many distilleries trading with the term ‘Glenlivet’ appended to their name – the term having become a byword for illicit whisky from Speyside over the years. As many as 28 separate distilleries plied their trade with gay abandon, at times sullying the original Drumin Glenlivet’s reputation. A 50-year legal battle ensued and in the 1880s the Smith family won a legal battle for their whisky to be recognised as the definite article, along with two others, who soon vanished in the upcoming gloomy days for the industry.

SETTING NEW STANDARDS SINCE 1824

Since inception, The Glenlivet has always been about moving forward, setting new standards and exploring unconventional ways to deliver new single malt taste experiences that complement The Glenlivet’s fruity house style.

To commemorate their bicentennial anniversary, they are celebrating throughout 2024 with a line-up of exciting events, experiences and innovations.

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old First-fill American Oak - 200th Anniversary Edition is a special single malt whisky created to celebrate the Glenlivet distillery’s 200th anniversary.

The artwork for The Glenlivet 200 Year Anniversary Limited Edition 12 Year Old was voted for and chosen by friends and fans of The Glenlivet. This design highlights pivotal moments, influential figures and significant landmarks integral to our story, casting an eye towards the future and anticipating the next 200 years – this whisky is a celebration of George Smith’s vision!

Maturation: Unlike the classic Glenlivet 12, which matures in a combination of European and American oak casks, this 200th-anniversary edition is exclusively aged in American oak casks. This technique imparts luxuriously creamy hints of buttery oak, vanilla, and toasted coconut to the whisky, harmoniously enhancing its intrinsic flavors of ripe citrus and tropical fruits.

Flavour Profile: 12 YO, 75Cl, 43% ABV, £55

Nose: It opens with sweet, tangy fruits like juicy pineapple, clementine, and a touch of citrus blossom. Hazelnut cream and vanilla follow, accompanied by caramel shortbread.
Palate: Expect fresh, juicy fruit flavors—ripe pears, pressed apples, and sweet candied orange—supported by toasted marzipan and oaken vanilla.
Finish: The finish lingers with toasty notes of coconut, almond, creamy vanilla, and elegant oak char.
Summation: This limited-edition Glenlivet release is a delightful tribute to two centuries of whisky craftsmanship. Worth the try even if $20 more expensive. 

INTRODUCING THE GLENLIVET FUSION CASK

This category-first innovation continues The Glenlivet’s commitment and 200-year legacy of setting new standards and exploring unconventional ways to deliver new single malt taste experiences.

THE GLENLIVET LAUNCHES FUSION CASK SERIES WITH RUM AND BOURBON EXPRESSION

The new series will feature single malts finished in recoopered casks that combine different cask types. The launch of the Fusion Cask series comes in the year that The Glenlivet celebrates its 200th anniversary.

The Glenlivet continues its parade of unusual and unexpected whiskies with its new Fusion Cask Selection, which it describes as “a category-first innovation,” selectively finished in “bespoke casks that are uniquely crafted by fusing dismantled first-fill rum and bourbon barrels.” If this sounds at all familiar, you might be recalling Amrut’s Fusion release, which has the same basic idea. No specific ages are attached to the whisky, either primary aging or finishing.

The Glenlivet Fusion Cask release will showcase ‘flavour experimentation’ with batches of the Speyside distillery's single malt spirit that have been partly matured in bespoke casks. They will thus be intriguing single malt Scotch whiskies that showcase flavour experimentation.

The first in the series is The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection, for which single malt spirit was finished in recoopered casks that comprise wood from both first-fill rum and first-fill bourbon casks. The chosen casks were dismantled and rebuilt into new vessels that pair the heads of one cask type with the staves of the other – a method that The Glenlivet's owner Chivas Brothers claims as a first for the Scotch single malt category.

Let me restate that, regarding a couple of points here, none of which takes away from this single malt’s unique character. Just a portion of the whisky in the blend is finished in these special casks, not the entirety of the liquid. And the casks were created by interchanging heads—putting rum barrel heads on bourbon barrels, and bourbon barrel heads on rum barrels—as opposed to building new casks using both types of staves. Still, the effects are pronounced and the whisky is quite good,

This claim is true insofar as Scotch Whisky is concerned. The Indian single malt Amrut Spectrum 007 featured staves from seven different first-fill barrels of varied types of spirits, including barrels from different countries that manufacture spirits. To make the Spectrum 007, a two part maturation technique was employed, the first being maturation of New Make spirit in ex-Bourbon casks followed by transferring the aged spirit into the custom barrels. The custom barrels are made with seven different kinds of staves, new American Oak with Char level 3, new French Oak with light toasting, ex-Oloroso staves, ex-PX Sherry staves, ex-Cognac staves, virgin Russian oak casks with a medium to heavy toast and ex-Mizunara oak casks. The aforementioned barrel has equal proportions of all seven kinds of staves arranged in a one-after-the-other manner lending their own characteristics and complexities to the malt coming into its own on the nose and the palate.

Unique Cask Fusion: The Glenlivet Fusion Cask is part of a new series that features a single malt finished in bespoke casks. These casks are crafted by fusing dismantled rum and bourbon barrels, creating a distinctive flavour profile.

Flavour Profile: The whisky has been matured in specially designed casks that once cradled rum and bourbon. As a result, it offers a palate of caramel toffee, toffee-covered bananas, and a hint of cinnamon spice, notes expected from both Rum and Bourbon.

Glenlivet has done a lot of experiments prior to this with fusion casks, mixing up staves, etc. They have to figure out what the right ratio is to create the flavour. Though they have a huge amount of experience in finishing whisky, they do not want it to be overpowering. If it doesn’t work, they don’t release it, but this was one of their successes. They pointed out that they could have matured separate whiskies in rum and bourbon barrels and blended them together, but it wouldn’t have yielded the same flavour. “You have to be careful with rum,” the experts said. “You can start to lose the scotch whisky character. That’s why this works—you get the right balance and ratio.” They won’t reveal how long the whisky was finished in these casks, just that it was “significant.”

Tasting Notes: NAS, 70 Cl, 40% ABV, £80 ($100.)

The Glenlivet Fusion Cask is more flavourful than anticipated, with a smooth finish. Notes of orange, vanilla,. Tasting notes supplied by The Glenlivet say the Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection has aromas of orange, vanilla custard, and coconut, with palate notes of apricot, fresh apples, toffee-covered bananas, cinnamon and a blend of rum and bourbon characteristics make it a unique experience.

Chivas Brothers cask experts claim that this category-first innovation continues their commitment and 200-year legacy of pushing boundaries in whisky. As a team of makers at The Glenlivet, they work closely with their partners at the cooperage to ensure the handmade casks are of the highest quality, and this intricate dismantling and reassembling process to create new bespoke casks ensures a distinctive and expertly crafted finish.

The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection was available for purchase in the US from February 2024, priced from US$99.99.

ON THE EYE: The glass holds a nice lighter golden brown colour, reminiscent of a good Scotch look. The legs and viscosity are square on as well.

NOSE: The aromatics on this have both floral and sweet notes, reflecting lavender, tropical flowers, honey, apricot, and apple, and a slight back note of vanilla.

PALATE: Notes of Spring! Some light warming notes and a bit of sweet. Highlights here include vanilla, honey, a touch of baked bread, brown sugar, oak, apricot, and a very slight sour apple.

FINISH: Short, with a sweet, slightly oily feel in the throat.

SUMMATION: Glenlivet is the best-selling single malt in the USA. The Glenlivet has always been an approachable Scotch single malt, which is why it sells so well. This Fusion Cask derivative is another feather in that cap, offering a unique alternative to the house flavour style.

LOCH LOMOND HIGHLAND SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERY

A product of the 1960s distillery building boom, Loch Lomond was built in ’66 by a joint partnership between Duncan Thomas, the American owner of Littlemill (now closed), and Chicago-based Barton Brands. The American firm took full control in 1971, but closed it in 1984 when that boom turned to bust. It passed into the hands of Inver House the year after, before they flipped it to Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse Ltd in 1986. The firm added Glen Scotia to its portfolio in 1994.

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most versatile distilleries, producing single malt, single grain and blended whiskies alike, all of which vary in style from the soft and fruity to rich and heavily peated. The distillery uses a selection of different stills to make its whisky, including traditional pot stills, continuous column stills and the famous Lomond stills – straight-necked pot stills with rectifying plates.

Loch Lomond was set up by its former owner to be Scotland’s self-sufficient distillery. Rather than playing the normal game of exchanging the spirit made for fillings of grain and malt for own blends, it made all its requirements itself. That meant being innovative.

The original distillery held a set of pot stills with rectifying plates in their necks (also known as Lomond stills), allowing different flavour streams to be produced. Expansion in 1990 saw a second pair of the same design being installed, before the distillery installed two continuous stills three years later in which to make its own grain whisky. Two ‘traditional’ swan neck pot stills were added in 1998, before an additional continuous still, set up to produce grain whisky from a 100% malted barley mash, was installed in 2007. With the recent addition of two more Lomond stills, Loch Lomond has the capability to produce 11 different distillates for its whisky brands (not including the spirit coming from Glen Scotia). Wine yeasts have also been used to help create different flavours. In many ways it is more akin to a Japanese approach to distilling than a Scottish one.

As well as the High Commisisoner blend, Loch Lomond has produced a range of single malt brands, including Inchmurrin, Inchmoan, Inchfad, Old Rosdhu, Croftengea and Craiglodge. While all have been available as official and independent bottlings at one time or another, only a handful continue to be bottled as part of the distillery’s current range.

Glen Catrine was the bottling and ageing arm of Bulloch & Co, a well-established blending and retail firm which owned the High Commissioner brand as well as, in time, Glen’s Vodka. Under Glen Catrine’s ownership, Loch Lomond grew to become the most flexible – and arguably the most innovative – distillery in Scotland. Its specialisation in the private label and export business however meant that its operations were never widely reported, or understood.

The firm was sold in 2014 for an undisclosed sum (believed to be in the tens of millions) to private equity firm Exponent whose new distilling division, Loch Lomond Group, is headed by former Diageo executives.

LOCH LOMOND 18 YEAR OLD

A perfect representation of Loch Lomond’s signature style, this single malt has been matured in three types of American oak casks for 18 years, creating its full-bodied and fruity character. The nose brings aromas of green apples, grapefruit, honeysuckle and rich oak, while the palate is filled with mouthwatering notes of baked apples, toffee, tobacco leaves and gooseberries, with gentle wisps of smoke lingering in the finish.

The Distillation Process

Loch Lomond Distillery operates a whisky distilling process unique among Scottish distilleries. Not just for the sake of standing alone, but for the quality and variety of the whisky it allows them to craft.

The Cooperage And Loch Lomond’s Unique Barrel Maintenance

Loch Lomond’s focus on quality is unwavering. The distillery owns its own cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard so every cask is perfect for maturing the Loch Lomond spirit.

Coopering of casks is an age-old skill, the nuances of which have seen little change over the centuries. Loch Lomond is one of only four distilleries in Scotland to have their own on-site cooperage. Their team of seasoned professionals and apprentices carefully manage the quality of all of the casks to ensure that the whisky is maintained to the highest possible standards.

Loch Lomond 18 YO: The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year 2024

The Whisky Exchange takes pride in offering the finest spirits the world has to offer. Their Spirits Of the Year Awards have always been an opportunity for them to champion exemplary bottlings that they believe deserve a little more attention. This year’s winners have all stood up to scrutiny from discerning customers and a panel of industry expects and seen off competition from some of the best bottlings available today.

Since its founding in 1965, Loch Lomond has always defied expectations. Designed to be one of Scotland’s most versatile distilleries, it runs four different still types, allowing it to create an unparalleled variety of different single malts, grain whiskies and blends. For decades it was one of the great workhorses of Scotch, lesser-known in the wider world. But in recent years, the sheer quality of its whiskies has caused this once underestimated distillery to earn great acclaim around the world. A well deserved win for one of the rising stars of 21st-century Scotch whisky.

Loch Lomond 18 year old Single Malt is a perfect representation of their signature style; it has mouth-watering notes of baked apple and rich toffee with gentle wood smoke on the finish in the typical style of Loch Lomond Whiskies.

Aged in three types of American oak casks, Loch Lomond 18 year old is bottled at 46% and non-chill filtered to keep things as nature intended. This expression is brought together by Michael Henry, their Master Blender, whose signature on each bottle is his personal assurance of quality.

Choosing just one whisky to celebrate is never easy, but thanks to our panel of industry experts and the attendees at our judging event in London, we have whittled down a shortlist of six to just one: our Whisky of the Year 2024.

This year’s shortlist included whiskies from Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, a smoky red wine cask-finished single malt, a rich Speyside whisky and a fruity, coastal malt. After much deliberation the votes were cast and the winner was clear: the Whisky of the Year is Loch Lomond 18 Year Old.

A perfect representation of Loch Lomond’s signature style, this single malt has been matured in three types of American oak casks for 18 years, creating its full-bodied and fruity character. The nose brings aromas of green apples, grapefruit, honeysuckle and rich oak, while the palate is filled with mouthwatering notes of baked apples, toffee, tobacco leaves and gooseberries, with gentle wisps of smoke lingering in the finish.

BENRIACH SMOKE SEASON SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

In a similar vein to its immediate neighbours Glen Elgin and Longmorn, fruit is at the heart of the Benriach character, here manifesting itself as pears and peaches with an added aromatic top note. Vibrant when young, it matures well – especially in refill casks where fruits take on a more tropical edge and extra spiciness steadily develops.

Benriach Smoke Season is the release-sister to the Malting Season and like that release, its name is a nod to the history of the distillery itself. Back in the olden days of whisky production, HVAC systems didn’t exist, so when barley was dried, to halt the malting process, fire and smoke were employed. Peated whisky was common all across Scotland and not the perceived domain of Islay like it is today.

From Campbeltown to Speyside, Highlands and the Islands, peat is used regularly to create that smoky profile folks love. Though mainland peat is different from Islay or coastal peat because it’s made of different plant matter and hasn’t had centuries of saltwater exposure during its creation, it’s noticeably drier, woody and more BBQ-like. This is why in the pantheon of peat, Bruichladdich sticks out on Islay (they get mainland peated barley).

The peripatetic John Duff features here. The builder of Glenlossie and Longmorn wanted to establish a whisky-making fiefdom close to Elgin. His Longmorn distillery had been built in 1893, and having achieved early success he decided what was needed was another plant next door. In 1897, he built Benriach. Sadly, his timing could not have been worse. The Pattison crash of 1899, coupled with a downturn in the domestic market, saw a huge number of distilleries (many of which had only just opened) close down. Benriach was one of those, only running for two years before languishing in silence for the next 65, during which its large malting facility was used to supply Longmorn’s requirements.

In the latter years of the Seagram era, Benriach produced a smoky distillate for blending purposes. Current owner Brown-Forman has named this Benriach whisky for the seasonal practice of the distillery. Smoke Season was selected for a specific expression because Benriach sees only a single production run of peated whisky per year, a short run at that. They use malt that has received a strong smoking with Highland peat, and for this expression they drew entirely on that stock of spirit. However, the peated whisky was aged in a variety of American casks: ex-bourbon barrels, toasted new oak and charred new oak.

Dr. Rachel Barrie, Master Blender for all of Brown-Forman’s Scottish holdings, is behind this creation. Smoke Season is said to be the peatiest malt to ever emerge from Benriach at that.

THE TASTING NOTES: 70 Cl, 52.8% ABV, £53

ON THE EYE: Honey

NOSE: The nose is on the faint side, but the current of malty sweetness is immediately evident, this tinged with ash and charred oak. Smoke, orchard fruit, minerality (spirity), cinnamon pastry, a touch of honey and baseball card bubblegum. Part spirity, part smoky and part sweet.

PALATE: Smoke, toffee, minerality, oak, honey graham, vanilla taffy and a bit of churro, wax and honeyed malty sweetness. Bolder smoky delivery with less of the “spirity” essence and subtle richness. A quite silken mouthfeel, and a stronger presence than what the aroma brought out. The sweetness developes into a note of green apples. This is fast subsumed, however, by a rising tide of earthy, unflavoured but creamy oatmeal; and a mild, but nonetheless bitter wave of smoke. The finish turns woody, before running down into smoky again before dissipating.

FINISH: Med-long ; smoke, spice, toffee and dried fruit fade to a waxy smoked vanilla.

SUMMATION: Decent balance, medium body and a slightly oily feel. This is an expressive whisky, especially compared to the Malting Season, and good for several reasons like all kinds of odd and interesting notes; baseball card bubblegum or churro and one other that I can’t quite put my finger on. A specific candy or dessert, but I can’t remember exactly what.

Although the peatiest whisky to come from Benriach, this is hardly a smokebomb; it manages to combine a range of elements distinct from the more familiar smokers from Islay or the Highlands; it is unquestionably a Speyside malt. Keeping that in mind, peated malts from Speyside are still uncommon, and sometimes are not quite as distinguished as Smoke Session. Adding that to the price, and this Benriach single malt becomes a very worthy buy indeed. Benriach Smoke Session costs £53 in the UK and $75 in the US. All said and done, this is a good and drinkable whisky.

GLENDRONACH REVIVAL 15 YO HIGHLANDS SINGLE MALT

This is not a new whisky. It has been added as I think it is worth a re-read.

To be Scotch, it has to be made in Scotland. But that’s just a starting point—there’s plenty of diversity to the nation’s signature spirit, including single malts, which are made with malted barley, and blended scotches, whose mash bills include other grains.

The world of scotch is also evolving, with restless distillers nowadays playing around with various categories of the whisky, from heavily-peated smoke bombs to sherry-cask whiskies. There’s been a blurring of the lines in terms of flavour profiles, and there’s more experimentation going on. It’s exciting—it makes it more of an adventure for a novice who wants to start exploring Scotch.

The modern version of the GlenDronach 15 Revival is from distillate produced after 2002 and includes the use of ex-PX casks. The whisky making process has not changed at all since the now-infamous removal of the phrase “non-chill filtered” on the outer packaging of all standard range GlenDronach bottlings so we can assume non-chill filtration here.

HISTORY

The GlenDronach distillery has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1826. Located in the picturesque Speyside region of Scotland, GlenDronach is nestled in the valley of Forgue, near the town of Huntly. Its name, “GlenDronach”, translates to “valley of the brambles” in Gaelic — a nod to the distillery’s scenic surroundings.

Originally founded by James Allardice, GlenDronach quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality Scotch whisky. Allardice was known for his innovative approach to whisky making, emphasizing the importance of sherry cask maturation. This distinctive style would become one of GlenDronach’s defining characteristics.

GlenDronach distillery faced various challenges throughout its early history. During both world wars, resources were scarce and production was significantly affected. Additionally, changes in ownership and the economic downturn in the late 19th century also posed challenges for the distillery. In 1960, GlenDronach was purchased by William Teacher & Sons Ltd, which eventually became part of Allied Distillers. During this time, the distillery continued to produce whisky using traditional methods, including malting its own barley. The rich and full-bodied nature of GlenDronach whiskies, resulting from the use of sherry casks, remained a distinguishing feature.

GlenDronach distillery closed temporarily in the early 1990s due to economic challenges and a decrease in demand across the whisky industry. It was able to reopen under Allied Distillers in 2002, marking a revitalization that has since led to continued success.

In 2008, the BenRiach Distillery Company acquired GlenDronach, marking a new chapter for the distillery. Under the new ownership, GlenDronach shifted focus and expanded its range of expressions and showcased the depth and complexity of its whiskies. The distillery changed hands one final time in 2016 with an acquisition by the Brown-Forman Corporation, a US based spirits conglomerate that also owns Jack Daniels. Today, GlenDronach is celebrated for its exceptional single malts, including a core range of expressions ranging from 12 to 21 years old, as well as limited editions and special cask finishes.

PRODUCT

The GlenDronach distillery upholds a tradition of handcrafted techniques and devotion to the art of whisky making. The process begins with the use of natural ingredients, including the Highland water sourced from underwater springs in the Balnoon hills and locally sourced malted barley (the distillery no longer malts their own barley but instead purchases it already malted).

While the barley may be pre-malted, it still needs to be milled and ground into smaller chunks. Most distilleries have someone else do this step, but GlenDronach does still mill their own grains in their Porteus brand malt mill from the early 1900’s. From there, the grains are cooked in a copper mash tun and then fermented in traditional wooden vats made from Scottish Larchwood.

After fermentation, we now have a mildly alcoholic liquid which is then distilled twice in batches through the distillery’s copper pot stills. This process selectively captures the desired components from the liquid to get the flavour profile just right, and concentrates the alcohol within the liquid — a process which is assisted by the large and uniquely saxophone-shaped copper stills. Once distilled, the spirit is then filled into Spanish oak casks and placed in their dunnage warehouses to mature.

Central to GlenDronach’s craftsmanship is the marriage of their robust Highland spirit with the finest Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks imported from Andalucia, Spain. This combination imparts exceptional depth, complexity, and character to their whiskies. The selection and care of the Spanish oak sherry casks are paramount, as nearly 70% of the whisky’s flavour is derived from the maturation process.

Throughout the lengthy maturation period, the dedicated distillery team carefully oversees the Single Malt whiskies, ensuring their optimal development. While this particular bottle was aged for 15 years, there are some offerings that are aged for 31 years! Finally, the master blender, Rachel Barrie, expertly selects and marries the whiskies, ensuring that each expression embodies exceptional depth, complexity, and character.

PACKAGING

The bottle is crafted with a clear glass that allows the rich color of the whisky to shine through. The shape of the bottle might be entirely unchanged since the late 1800’s — it resembles nearly every other Scotch whiskey bottle (tall, short necked, with a slightly bulbous goitre to help you grip when you pour).

The GlenDronach 15-year bottle features a label that goes beyond minimalism, offering a wealth of information about the whisky (for example, insights about the whisky’s age and other key details). While it may not have the sleek and minimalist aesthetic of some modern designs, the label’s focus on information aims to provide whisky enthusiasts with a comprehensive understanding of the whisky’s characteristics, production, and age — embracing traditional Scotch whisky labelling.

All of this comes in a sturdy cardboard tube, providing additional protection and adding a touch of elegance to the packaging. The distillery uses varied colors to differentiate across their lines of spirits while the rest of the the packaging remains consistent; in the case of this 15-year bottle, the color palette predominantly features green tones.

THE TASTING NOTES: 70 Cl,  46% ABV,   Non Chill-filtered,  £65

ON THE EYE: Reddish amber.

NOSE: Plums and figs, pencil eraser, clove, hint of licorice, cacao nibs, cherry compote, orange marmalade, Demerara sugar, walnuts, pencil eraser. Gentle sweetness and a subtle hint of alcohol, notes of brown sugar, molasses and coffee. Water brings out a bit of sharpness to the nose as well as damson jam and raisins.

PALATE: The dominant taste is coffee, partnered with the richness of dark chocolate. Dry spice first with clove, white pepper, and a little nutmeg, more walnut, lots of wine influence, clotted cream, honey, hints of earthiness, spicy oak. With water, more nuttiness and some additional baking spice.

FINISH: Big sweet sherry first followed by oranges, more plums, cinnamon, almonds, a light touch of peat and a hint of fresh mint at the end. The sweetness and oak remains for a good long while. Water adds some lemongrass, anise, and a touch of baked apples.

ON ICE

Ice has a tendency to alter the dynamics of whisky, and there is a sizable shift here. The coffee and dark chocolate flavours, which once took the lead, now fade a bit which allows other elements to come forward. With the dilution from the ice, there is a more pronounced presence of peat, lending a smoky and earthy character to the whisky. Alongside the peat, a subtle bitterness (reminiscent of coffee that has been left on the burner too long) starts to emerge. An intriguing twist to the overall experience.

Summation: GlenDronach Revival was the perfect name for a brand that completely reinvented itself under the guidance of Billy Walker. As the brand matured and eventually sold to Brown-Forman, the quality of the distillery’s products remains a talking point despite what I think has been a relatively consistent product line over the past five years. Rachel Barrie has seen to that. GlenDronach Revival is sherry dominated and a popular release among whisky fans who crave heavily sherried whisky.

GLENMORANGIE'S CELLAR GROWS

 Huge expansion in glenmorangie whiskies

A SAMPLE OF EARLY GLENMORANGIE EXPRESSIONS

As reported earlier, Glenmorangie is leaving no stone unturned in furthering new concepts and variations in producing radically different expressions. They have thought about food as art as well as mixology, an overlap between mediums to create unique experiences is a space that artists around the world are trying to explore.

Their apparently whimsical project explore how people consume whisky and the shifting trends in the space. With bright colour blocking and traditional it juxtaposes old-world luxury with modern-day trends to encapsulate how people like to drink through flowing movements.

The narrative of the last few years has been around romanticising life. Taking time to enjoy the little things and slowing down the world’s frenetic pace to truly savour the act of being alive. These experiences are reflected in Glenmorangie’s ever-developing projects, from luxury single malt brands to the affordable.

Most Scotch whisky is made from ingredients that seem mass produced and fetched into the distillery. It’s inside where the wizard does his magic. There’s undeniably a bit of artistry and craftsmanship that goes into the process, transforming those raw ingredients into the spirit that will eventually grace the shelf.

Like most distilleries in Great Britain, the Glenmorangie distillery halted production between 1931 > 1936 and between 1941 > 1945, but was back to full capacity by 1948. Within just a couple of years, the demand had dramatically increased and in 1977 the distillery doubled its capacity from two stills to four, and doubled again in 1990 to a total of eight. In the 1980s, the distillery purchased 600 acres of land surrounding the facility to preserve their water supply.

Throughout all this history, the Macdonald family had retained ownership of the distillery; but in 2004, the French spirits company LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE purchased the distillery outright. Until this point, the company had focussed on their flagship spirit, but the new owners brought redesigned curved bottles and the desire to experiment with different flavours and barrels for aging their spirit.

Glenmorangie has been the best selling single malt in Scotland since 1983, and globally they hold 6% of the total single malt whisky market.

GLENMORANGIE’S FIRST BOUTIQUE IS AT HEATHROW T2

Moët Hennessy Travel Retail open 1^st Glenmorangie boutique at Heathrow Airport Oct.2023 with Dufry

Taking travellers on a ‘sensory journey’ that ‘celebrates the brand’s imagination’, the boutique’s space is designed in oak and sports an orange hue, in line with Glenmorangie’s signature whiskies and the casks in which they are aged.

Glenmorangie’s Highland surroundings and its single malt’s fluidity are then reflected in technicolour curving linework, while copper accents and ‘bold’ depictions of the brand’s icon, the giraffe, nod to its ‘towering’ stills.

In the boutique, passengers will be able to get their hands on a selection of rare and experimental Glenmorangie single malts, masterminded by Dr Bill Lumsden, the distillery’s director of whisky creation.

In addition to Glenmorangie’s full travel retail range, visitors can purchase Glenmorangie Tuiga 25 Year Old, Glenmorangie 25 Years Old Pommard Cask Finish and Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Year Old as long as they are available. More bottings of a similar nature, but not identical, have been released in the following months, some of which are described infra. 

The Tuiga was released as a celebratory bottling for the Monaco Yacht Club in 2021, with an extremely limited production run. The Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve, meanwhile, was finished in Chardonnay wine casks with only 1,000 bottles produced. These are all exclusive to the store and stocked alongside the brand’s full travel retail range.

Bottle engraving services will be available for premium bottles in the boutique, and beyond whisky buying, visitors are also invited to stop by for a cocktail at the boutique’s ‘luxurious’ bar.

GLENMORANGIE DEBUTS POMMARD WINE CASK FINISH AT HEATHROW

Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish was made available exclusively at Glenmorangie’s boutique at Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, where consumers can try a range of whisky experiences including food pairings, mixology and tastings.

Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish is the result of one of the producer’s first experiments with prestigious Pommard red wine casks. Inspired by the intense, fruity wines which emerge from that renowned appellation in Burgundy, France, this 25-year-old single malt is contained within just 1,000 bottles globally.

The appellation in Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune takes its name from Pomona, the Roman goddess of abundance, known for protecting and cultivating fruit trees. It is contained within an oak presentation box, decorated with illustrations of vines which come together in a depiction of Pomona herself.

The red wines of Pommard were among Glenmorangie Director of Whisky Creation, Bill Lumsden’s favourite wines in the world. Hoping to bring their classic, fruity red burgundy notes to Glenmorangie, he first started experimenting with Pommard wine casks around 2008. Created from a small number of casks, and with just 1,000 bottles available, Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish is truly one of the most fabulous and delicious wine-cask finishes ever to emerge from Glenmorangie.

On first tasting, one will hardly believe its complexity. The aroma is very perfumed, with notes of lemon sherbet, plums, cherries and honey. The taste is like a basket of fruits: red, juicy apples, honeydew melon, crystallised ginger and a hint of milk chocolate. This is a delectable whisky that global travellers will surely savour and enjoy.

As stated, the Glenmorangie Boutique at Heathrow T2 opened in October 2023, providing travellers with an opportunity to explore Glenmorangie’s range of signature and exclusive single malts from the Highland distillery. Whisky lovers can find Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish there now; it will fetch up at other select travel retail outlets later this year.

Initially matured in ex-bourbon casks for 10 years, the whisky was then reracked into Pommard red wine French oak casks for a secondary maturation period of 15 years. The use of Pommard red wine casks is a first for the distillery. Located in Côte de Beaune, Pommard is an appellation known for producing bold and rich wines using Pinot Noir grapes.

This Glenmorangie 25 Year Old, limited to just 1,000 bottles, was bottled at 51.6% ABV, and has an RRP of £2,100 (~£2,650).

NEW HIGHLAND MALT ADDED TO CORE RANGE

Glenmorangie has unveiled the Triple Cask Reserve, the latest addition to its Highland single malt range. Taking inspiration from the landscape of the Scottish Highlands, the distillery has used three types of casks for a harmony of subtly spiced flavours. Regrettably, the ABV follows the unhappy Glenmorangie ABV 40% strength policy, a bane if there ever was one.

The Triple Cask Reserve has been aged in bourbon, rye, and charred oak casks. Tasting notes supplied by Glenmorangie highlight “fruity aromas... subtly cut through with spice.”

By uniting these three different cask types in the Triple Cask Reserve Glenmorangie has created a deeply harmonious whisky. Using bourbon and new charred oak, they celebrate our whisky’s classic, fruity sweetness. Laced with the savoury notes and subtle spice of rye whisky casks — seldom used at Glenmorangie — this whisky brings a new balance of flavours to their core range.

Inspired by the Highlands’ natural splendour, its luscious aromas of pear, candied orange peel, and honeysuckle and tastes of vanilla, maple syrup, and clove promise to delight everyone who tries this delicious single malt.”

For 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have found creative ways to make their whiskies unique such as using tall, spacious stills and selecting distinct types of cask.

Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve 40% ABV (RRP £33) is currently available in the UK, Germany, France, the US, and South Africa.

THE TASTING NOTES

COLOUR : Paprika

AROMA : Luscious and tropical, with a combination of pears,vanilla, candied orange peel, honeysuckle, grapefruit and pear-flavour boiled sweets. Some gentle spices are present, such as cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, followed by more luscious sweetness.

TASTE: The mouthfeel is creamy and viscous, with a burst of creme brulée, cherry chocolate, fudge, tangy orange sherbet, clove, sweet chilli, and tropical fruits. Then comes the influence from the oak wood, with maple syrup, almond marzipan and subtle spices.

FINISH: Rich, sweet, spicy and almost chewy in nature.

SUMMATION: A good buy, but would have been a classic at 46% ABV.

THE NECTAR 16 YO BOURBON & SWEET WHITE WINE CASKS 46% ABV

Inspired by his memory of entering a French pastry shop, Dr Bill Lumsden first brought a whisky of dessert-like complexity to life in Glenmorangie in The Nectar D’Or, a 12 YO expression that was finished for two years in Sauternes wine casks. It suddenly went NAS, before reappearing as a 12 YO. Now, he has taken its swirls of sweet scents and spice to new heights of deliciousness, in the award-winning Glenmorangie The Nectar. Aged longer, for 16 years, in an enhanced combination of bourbon and sweet white wine casks, this new whisky is even more sumptuous and complex.

For extra depth and creaminess, silky Glenmorangie aged for 14 years in bourbon casks was selected. The whisky was then finished for two more years in a new combination of sweet white wine casks and bottled without chill filtration.

Sauternes and Monbazillac casks from France bring sumptuous notes of pastry, brioche, meringue and baked apples. Moscatel casks from Spain offer sweet, syrupy dessert-like notes. And Tokaji casks from Hungary, add white chocolate, almond and honeycomb flavours to their creation.

Maturation Mastery

At the heart of Glenmorangie's ethos lies the belief that maturation is an art form. The Nectar 16 Years Old is a prime example of this philosophy. Aged for a sweet sixteen years, the whisky is given the time it needs to develop a complexity that captivates the senses.

For extra depth and creaminess, silky Glenmorangie aged for 14 years in bourbon casks was selected. The whisky was then finished for two more years in a new combination of sweet white wine casks.

Among its distinguished offerings, Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old 46% stands out as a testament to the distillery's commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. It is a masterpiece that unfolds the passage of time and the artistry of maturation.

THE TASTING NOTES

Pour a dram of Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old, sit back and wait a while as the dram opens up to satiate you in every way.

NOSE: you'll be greeted by a bouquet that is both floral and fruity. Notes of honey, apricot, and vanilla intertwine, setting the stage for what promises to be a delightful tasting experience.

PALATE: On the palate, the whisky unfolds with a symphony of flavours. The influence of oak barrels is evident, bringing forth rich, warm notes of toffee, oak spices, and a hint of citrus. The mouthfeel is smooth and velvety, a testament to the careful maturation process that Glenmorangie is renowned for.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering, leaving a sweet and spicy trail that invites you to savor the moment. It's a whisky that evolves on the palate, revealing new nuances with each sip.

Craftsmanship in Every Drop

Glenmorangie's commitment to craftsmanship is reflected not only in the maturation process but also in the distillation. The Nectar 16 Years Old is distilled in the tallest stills in Scotland, a feature that contributes to the light and floral character for which Glenmorangie is celebrated. It is indeed a whisky for connoisseurs.

Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old is a whisky that speaks to the connoisseur, the one who appreciates the nuance and depth that only time can impart. It's a bottle that deserves a place in the collection of any whisky enthusiast, a timeless expression of the art of Scotch whisky making.

SUMMATION: In the vast landscape of Scotch whisky, Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old 46% stands tall as a shining example of elegance and maturation. From the tranquil Highlands to the glass in your hand, this whisky invites you to embark on a journey of flavour and sophistication. So, whether you're a seasoned whisky aficionado or a curious explorer, savoring a dram of Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old is an experience that will leave a lasting impression. Cheers to the artistry of Glenmorangie and the rich heritage it brings to each bottle.

A TALE OF TOKYO 46% ABV

Double Gold winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023

Glenmorangie has launched the fourth bottling in their annual Tales series - the Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo. This has seen Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, using rare Japanese mizunara oak for the famous single malt brand for the first time. The whisky from these casks has been married with traditional American oak ex-bourbon cask and ex-sherry cask stock to create the perfect balance.

The packaging for a Tale of Tokyo features a collaboration with Japanese artist Yamaguchi Akira and shows a Tokyo street scene. The Tales series has proved popular since launching in 2020 with A Tale of Cake and followed in subsequent years by A Tale of Winter and A Tale of the Forest. Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo is bottled at 46% ABV and will retail worldwide for £76 per bottle.

Combining bright, bold flavours with soft sweetness, Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky as full of delicious sensory contrasts as Tokyo itself.

Inspired to capture Tokyo’s many sensory dimensions and to experiment with rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks for the first time, Dr Bill united Glenmorangie part-aged in Mizunara oak with whisky that had spent time in both sherry and bourbon casks, for a unique limited-edition perfectly balanced with Glenmorangie’s house-style.

In short, Glenmorangie’s A Tale of Tokyo limited edition is a harmonious symphony of Mizunara, Bourbon, and Sherry elegance

Glenmorangie’s exceptional expression, bottled at 46% ABV on the 20th of July 2023, unfolds a tale of complexity and elegance through its unique maturation journey in the disparate casks. A harmonious symphony of flavours awaits those fortunate enough to experience this limited edition, a celebration of Glenmorangie’s exploration into the artistry of cask influence.

Maturation Mastery:

At the heart of A Tale of Tokyo lies the mastery of cask maturation, a process that defines the character of Glenmorangie’s expressions. For this limited edition, the spirit was entrusted to a trio of casks, each contributing its distinct personality to the whisky. Mizunara, known for its rarity and influence, Bourbon, with its vanilla and caramel notes, and Sherry, imparting rich, fruity undertones, collaborated to weave a narrative that captures the essence of Tokyo’s diverse and dynamic spirit.

All these limited editions are being bottled at 46% ABV. At this ABV, A Tale of Tokyo greets the senses with an aromatic dance of vanilla, oak, and a touch of exotic spice from the Mizunara cask. The first sip reveals a symphony of flavours—a delicate balance of Mizunara’s sandalwood and coconut, the sweet embrace of Bourbon’s caramel and vanilla, and the depth of Sherry’s dried fruits and dark chocolate. The interplay of these cask influences creates a whisky that is both intricate and harmonious. The whisky fuses notes of pepper with bitter cherries and mouth-watering orange zest with incense and sweet oak – a unique and complex flavour profile resulting from the recipe of Mizunara oak, Bourbon and Sherry casks.

As the whisky lingers on the palate, there’s a gradual unveiling of complexity, with whispers of tropical fruits, a hint of nuttiness, and a gentle warmth that lingers in the finish. A Tale of Tokyo invites enthusiasts to savor the layers of flavor, each contributing to the overarching narrative of this un-chill-filtered limited edition release.

THE TASTING NOTES:

ON THE EYE: The colour is coppery gold

NOSE: The nose is rich and savoury with initial aromas of dark chocolate, incense and sandalwood. Underneath are further aromas of caramel, toffee, vanilla custard and malted biscuits with hints of cocoa powder, cinnamon and orange.

PALATE: On the palate this whisky feels rich, bold and heavy. The intense notes from the nose strike first again, especially the chocolate and sandalwood.  There is also something herbal and menthol-like that evolves early on. Then comes the caramel and toffee sweetness and this creates superb balance. Some citrus fruit notes also come through well - think of orange oil and candied peel especially. More subtle notes take their time to develop but add incredible depth and complexity - think of cocoa powder, gingerbread, bitter cherry and a hint of aniseed.

FINISH: The finish is long and remains bold. The sweeter elements slowly fade and this allows plenty of oak and warming woody spices to shine. There is a slightly resinous feel and this accentuates notes of rancio, cedarwood and sandalwood. Pinches of cocoa and white pepper make the woodiness pop and also aids the length of finish

Limited Edition Legacy:

Bottled on the 20th of July 2023, A Tale of Tokyo is not merely a whisky; it is a collector’s gem—a limited edition that captures a moment in time. The bottle, adorned with symbolic imagery and a nod to Tokyo’s vibrant culture, is a testament to the exclusivity of this expression.

SUMMATION:

Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo Limited Edition is a journey into the heart of cask influence, a tale that unfolds sip by sip. From Mizunara’s exotic allure to Bourbon’s comforting embrace and Sherry’s rich tapestry, this release is a celebration of the diverse and dynamic spirit of Tokyo. For those fortunate enough to acquire a bottle, it is an invitation to embark on a sensory adventure, where each nuance tells a chapter of the tale that is Glenmorangie’s exploration into the world of whisky craftsmanship.

GLENMORANGIE PALO CORTADO 46% ABV 12 YO

Finished in the rarest sherry casks

This deeply sweet and nutty small-batch release is the first Glenmorangie ever to be finished in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks. Aged for 12 years, it brings a new elegance to the Highland Distillery’s delicate style.

Why is Palo Cortado a rare sherry? It is a sherry initially destined to be a Fino or Amontillado sherry which feature a yeast “flor” at the top of the liquid in the barrel. The flor is a thick layer of yeast that forms on the top surface of the sherry while in the cask, providing a biological maturation aspect to the wine. Without a flor, the sherry will mature in an oxidative manner, such as the ever-popular oloroso sherry. During maturation, when a wine that initially was maturing under a flor (fino, amontillado) inexplicably loses its flor, it begins to mature in an oxidative manner, turning into a Palo Cortado sherry. Palo Cortado’s therefore possess attributes of both flor-matured (bright, fresh, and dry) and oxidation-matured (nutty & darker fruits) sherries. Apparently, this accidental flor loss and formation of Palo Cortado-type sherry only happens to a few percent of all fine/amontillado sherry produced in Jerez, making it a rare cask finishing indeed.

The single malt spent its first eight years mellowing in American white oak bourbon casks. Then, delighted by that whisky’s smooth, soft character, Dr Lumsden was inspired to finish for four years a select batch in Palo Cortado casks, the rarest variety of sherry created purely by chance and never before used at Glenmorangie.

Enchanted by Palo Cortado’s sweet and nutty flavours, the good Dr sourced a handful of its casks, which are incredibly hard to come by. He filled them with the whisky, imagining the unparalleled depth and complexity they might bring Glenmorangie. Finished in these deliciously wonderful casks, this creation developed all the rich elegance dreamed of.

Uniquely complex and nutty, it layers dark plum depths with milk-chocolate richness, Brazil nuts and sweet spice.

THE TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Light, sweet, and fresh. Tinned peaches, shredded coconut, light runny honey, caramel toffee, faint whiff of golden raisins from the bulk bins. As some smell and taste in colours, this is very much in the golden region of the rainbow.

PALATE: Quite syrupy and mouth coating. Fruit cup syrup, blonde brownie, and light caramel sauce. Raspberry white chocolate vanilla scone. Perfectly measured dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Touch of cooked dates, golden raisins, and the barest amount of indistinct nuttiness. Retronasal or a discreet burp reveals an orange citrus burst.

FINISH: The finish is medium length, pleasant, and somewhat drying, with sweetness and baking spices trailing off elegantly before the dryness makes you want to refresh your palate with another lick of this delectable whisky.

DICHOTOMY: I’m not sure if my taste buds are off, or if the official tasting notes on the label are wrong. Nutty with milk chocolate, spice, and dark plums? These notes are more akin to the common Oloroso sherry notes and are perhaps meant to pull someone into buying this Palo Cortado release with notes that are typically reserved for Oloroso.700 ml in the EU but 750 ml in the USA, SA and Canada.

SUMMATION:

This Glenmorangie Palo Cortado very much leans away from the oxidative Oloroso type and towards the brighter, fresher, and drier Fino/Amontillado vein of sherry. The official tasting notes on the Glenmorangie website are more detailed and are closer to what one experiences. Even so, this is amongst the best releases in the past five odd years and most enjoyable. 

GLENMORANGIE TUIGA 25 YO SINGLE CASK

Honours Legendary Sailing Yacht

This vibrant and meltingly smooth single cask whisky is our delicious tribute to Tuiga’s Scottish heritage and her timeless beauty. Aged in a bourbon cask in the Highlands, as Glenmorangie has been for generations, our rare limited edition showcases Scottish craftsmanship at its best – just as Tuiga does. Fittingly, this 25-year-old whisky was distilled the same year as Tuiga's marvellous restoration. Its scents of jasmine and lemon blossom, and tastes of peaches, mango and toffee apple will be enjoyed by whisky lovers and ocean lovers alike.   Dr Bill Lumsden     Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation Glenmorangie Company

On the shelves at ‘The Wondrous Glenmorangie Boutique’ and other high-value retailers, this extremely limited edition expression was first available to the public on 23 June 2021. The Glenmorangie TUIGA is a single cull bottling from a bourbon barrel hand-picked by Dr Lumsden. 251 bottles were sold at € 1909 each through the LVMH Private Client Team on 08 September. The current price is € 2340.

A spectacular Glenmorangie, part of their Bond House No.1 Collection which is a series of releases from Glenmorangie's original 19th century warehouse. Bond House No.1 was transformed into the distillery's Stillhouse in order to increase production capacity the year after this was distilled, making it one of the final vintages to be warhoused there.

The classic sailing yacht Tuiga was crafted in Scotland more than a century ago and is still celebrated as an icon of her shape and class. And with this meltingly smooth and vibrant 25-year-old whisky, the Highland Distillery deliciously reflects her enduring grace. Released during Monaco Classic Week, a unique celebration of traditional sailing and motorboats established by the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been dreaming up delicious single malt whiskies in the Highlands of Scotland, aged in some of the world’s finest casks. Inspired by the Scottish craftsmanship displayed in Tuiga, this single cask whisky is testament to their own skill and finesse.

Tuiga's story began in 1909, when she was crafted at William Fife's renowned boatyard, on Scotland's Firth of Clyde. In 1995 she was acquired by the Yacht Club de Monaco, presided over by Prince Albert II of Monaco. She was meticulously restored, so that she could race again as the club’s flagship. The club has long been a partner of Glenmorangie’s parent company Moét Hennessy, sharing its values of elegance, tradition and art de vivre. As part of their ongoing collaboration, this hand-selected deliciously elegant whisky was distilled the same year as Tuiga’s reawakening began. Aged in a single bourbon cask in keeping with Scotch whisky tradition, the highly limited release reflects Tuiga’s Scottish origins and her classic lines.

THE TASTING NOTES: 70 cl; 52.2% ABV Distilled 1995 Released 2021

ON THE EYE: Colour Deep Amber, evoking the richness of a forthcoming sensory adventure. The presence of golden reflections attests to time spent in oak casks, unveiling exceptional maturity.

NOSE: Elegant scents of mint and jasmine ripple through notes of pears, apples and lemon blossom's gentle zest. Then fragrant incense comes to the fore with Glenmorangie’s classic butter candy tones. A splash of water brings top notes of roses and carnations, laced with wild mint.

PALATE: Meltingly smooth and buttery, with vibrant citrus and a tropical whirl of ripe peaches, sweet mango and pear, cut through with passion fruit’s tang. Then notes of toffee apple and vanilla glide gracefully on to the palate with hints of sweet chilli and ginger.

FINISH: Eucalyptus and vanilla sweetness are delicately touched by oak tannins.

SUMMATION: This exceptional single malt is the missing link between elegance and sophistication. Glenmorangie "Tuiga" 25 Years achieves a perfect balance between the sweetness of fruits, the warmth of oak, and the complexity of aromas, confirming its status as a gem in the world of refined whiskies. Thanks to its exceptional aging, this single malt can be stored for another 10 to 15 years in its original wooden crate without compromising its character. Pair it with a slice of foie gras, a lemon meringue tart, smoked salmon, or a selection of refined sushi.

ABOUT GLENMORANGIES BARREL-SELECT WHISKY RELEASES

Glenmorangie’s Barrel Select Release series comprises small-batch bottlings exploring the flavours which arise from different cask finishes. The first release in the series was the indulgently sweet and rich Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish, a 12-year-old whisky finished in Spain’s Malaga wine casks. The second release was Glenmorangie Cognac Cask Finish, an elegantly oaky and fruity 13-year-old whisky, finished in Cognac casks. Glenmorangie Palo Cortado Finish was the third release in the series. This deeply sweet and nutty 12-year-old bottling was Glenmorangie’s first ever to be finished in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks. Nutty and spicy, Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish is the series’ fourth release, and is shared exclusively with members of The Whisky Club, Australia, visitors to the distillery’s brand home and online to UK customers at Glenmorangie.com.

GLENMORANGIE CALVADOS CASK FINISH 12 YO 46% ABV

Finished in the finest Calvados du Pays d’Auge casks

The latest release from the select cask series reveals a uniquely fruity and floral whisky – it's their first ever finished in French Calvados casks. Calvados is a French spirit distilled from apples (and occasionally pears.)

The Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish is the fifth release in the Barrel Select series of small-batch single malts, which explores the flavours that arise from different cask finishes. Entwining scents of jasmine with baked apples and pears, this rare 12-year-old bottling offers new mellow depths to Glenmorangie’s signature fruity tones.

Led by their acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation, they craft their delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in the world’s finest casks. This expression is not un-chill-filtered.

In this experiment, he took a whisky which had spent more than 10 years ageing in American white oak bourbon casks, for Glenmorangie’s elegant style. He transferred that whisky into casks which, for 20 years, had held Calvados du Pays d’Auge, from Normandy, in France.

Soft and delectably rich, Glenmorangie Calvados Cask Finish unites mellow fruits of baked apples and pears with subtle notes of jasmine, narcissus and vanilla.

THE TASTING NOTES: 70 cl; 46% ABV, Un-chillfiltered, E150A Added

NOSE: Intensely fragrant with strong aromas of baked apples, pears, vanilla and almonds - behind it a slight waxy note - with a little water, floral aromas of daffodils and jasmine, paired with heather honey and sweet pastries

PALATE: Oily and spicy with a wealth of sweet notes - clearly baked pears, candied apples and marzipan, behind them star anise and praline with some lemon balm, eucalyptus and a touch of charcoal; jasmine, narcissus, and a hint of vanilla.

FINISH: Long-lasting finish; delicately rich, leaving a lingering impression of mellow fruitiness and understated floral elegance.

GLENMORANGIE AMONTILLADO FINISH 12 YO 46% ABV

Small-batch limited edition

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are endlessly experimental on their mission to dream up delicious single malt whiskies for more people to enjoy. They craft their delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as an adult giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in some of the world’s finest casks.

A long-time fan of Amontillado sherry, Dr Lumsden has always adored its nuttier, spicier style. Years ago, he began to imagine a unique, delicious whisky, which would entwine its casks’ distinctive flavours through the distillery’s gentle, honeyed style. But since such casks are hard to come by, opportunities are few and far between.

Eventually, he sourced a precious handful of Amontillado casks. Then he filled them with a soft, mellow whisky which had spent eight years in American white oak bourbon barrels. Transferring it into the Amontillado casks, he left it to age for another four years, until it achieved the flavours he had wanted. Finished in this way, the whisky winds sherried hints of cashews, clove, ginger, leather, a tanginess brought about by the 46% ABV, and dried fruit round Glenmorangie’s classic notes of peaches, orange and lemon balsam.

He hand-selected the finest of those precious casks to be bottled for the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release, adding he had always loved the nuttier, spicier tastes of Amontillado – his favourite style of sherry. It’s such a delight to bring its casks’ sherried influences to the whisky’s signature delicate style for this special release. It is the fourth release in the Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts, which has also included a 13-year-old Cognac cask-finished expression.

It has been crafted for The Whisky Club, Australia with very limited availability via Glenmorangie’s online shop, shipping to the UK only, and at their Distillery Visitor Centre shop in Tain.

                     

THE TASTING NOTES: 70 Cl, non chill-filtered, 46% ABV

ON THE EYE: Colour Bright Amber.

NOSE: Scents of rose, carnation and jasmine entwine with fragrant candle wax and hints of cashew nuts. A splash of water releases Amontillado’s classic dried fruit notes, followed by peaches in syrup.

PALATE: A soft and mouthcoating texture is wonderfully balanced by effervescent and spicy notes. Clove and ginger find harmony with Glenmorangie’s signature citrus tastes of orange sherbet, lemon balsam and eucalyptus oil, with undertones of walnut oil and leather.

FINISH: Slow and lingering, with notes of honey and aniseed. 

GLENMORANGIE THE INFINITA 18 YO 43% ABV

Glenmorangie has unveiled a new look and new name for its core-range 18-year-old whisky. Now titled Infinita 18 Years Old, the Highland single malt whisky retains its signature flavour profile from Glenmorangie's characteristic distillation process and its maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks. Alongside its new name, Infinita’s packaging has undergone a striking transformation. It now boasts a vivid blue gift box adorned with sophisticated linework and copper highlights, adding a touch of elegance to its presentation.

The Infinita encapsulates every element of Glenmorangie's house style in perfect harmony and is their most deliciously complex creation. A favourite with whisky lovers old and new, it seamlessly unites subtle sherry-cask hints and woody notes from its great age, with their distillery’s signature soft and fruity character. The result is a beautifully balanced single malt so multi-layered, it’s as if you are drinking a different whisky every time.

There are aromas of honey, vanilla, narcissus and jasmine, and tastes of figs, dates, nuts, gentle spices and more. Fans of Glenmorangie 18 Years Old can rest assured that the wondrous whisky is unchanged. In fact, as its new name suggests, Glenmorangie Infinita is deliciousness without end.

The world of Glenmorangie spans an endless kaleidoscope of tastes and aromas. Wondrous and ever-surprising, The Infinita embodies them all. Each dazzling drop of this 18 Year Old expression showcases the endless imagination of its Director of Whisky Creation– Glenmorangie’s multi-award-winning whisky maker.

With each sip, a different flavour greets you. Find honeyed notes rippling across pools of caramelised orange. Or gardens of jasmine and lemon blossom, touched by the breeze. Or a rhapsody of warm figgy richness and orange marmalade depths, brushed by wisps of campfire smoke…

THE TASTING NOTES: 18 YO, 70 Cl, 43% ABV, £130  

ON THE EYES: A warming & delicious honeyed gold.

NOSE: Tangy, caramelised citrus fruit aromas combine with a floral fragrance a blend of honeysuckle, narcissus and jasmine.

PALATE: A soft, oily texture gives way to flavours of nuts and spices, with notes of dates, figs and a hint of wood smoke.

FINISH: Long and enticing. The sweetness of dried fruit, and dryness of Oloroso develop in the aftertaste.

GLENMORANGIE SONOMA-CUTRER RESERVE

Limited edition, 1000 bottles.

Though Glenmorangie’s whisky makers insist they are endlessly creative on their quest to bring delicious single malts to the world, the first part of every story remains the same. Over time, their much celebrated Dr Lumsden toured every wine making country in the world, specifically their vineyards, and noted how these wines were aged and stored to give off their best. Almost immediately, he began to imagine how their casks might bring a sumptuous richness to Glenmorangie’s spirit.

Whenever he felt they would meet prevailing criteria to be tried in the world of whisky, he would place an order for their barrels and store them for use at the optimal time. Boasting Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, Glenmorangie invariably distills a relatively delicate spirit, ripe for experimentation.

This is when Dr Lumsden decides which type of casks to use. They then age or finish their whisky in those imported ‘finest’ casks, sourced from far and wide. It was no surprise that in his travels across multiple years, he discovered the prized Chardonnay white wines of the renowned Sonoma-Cutrer winery, in the Sonoma Valley – birthplace of Californian wine. Bold, creamy yet surprisingly subtle, their recent limited edition, Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve gives whisky lovers old and new a delicious taste of California’s sunlit vineyards. Overflowing with floral, fruity brilliance, this sumptuous 25-year-old Highland single malt Scotch whisky is one of Glenmorangie’s most rare and unique creations. As part of an experiment which may never be repeated, just 1,000 bottles exist.

During the production process, more so the maturation and finish, he felt that he could almost taste the sunshine ripening California’s grapes in the richly delicious Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve. Swirling with aromas of roses and carnations, and tastes of buttery vanilla, mandarin and pears, it’s as delicious as the whisky that came to mind on first trying Sonoma-Cutrer’s Chardonnay wines ages ago. Finished for 15 years in a small batch of these casks, which have never been used before at Glenmorangie, this single malt is an absolute one-off. Bold and creamy, yet still superbly subtle, it deserves to be enjoyed by whisky lovers old and new.

THE TASTING NOTES: 25 YO, ex-Bourbon cask (10 years), ex-Chardonnay cask (15 Years), ABV 50.4%, Non Chill-Filtered, Natural Colour, £ 1920.

ON THE EYE: Light orange honey,

NOSE: Malt, grapefruit peels, spice, grapey sweetness, earth, cocoa and vanilla cake and Necco. The aroma is very light till water is added, but even then it remains muted.

PALATE: Malty, cocoa, dried fruit, nuts, grapey sweetness and some baking spice with hints of dried apricots, Necco, chalk and plastic. Like the aroma, it’s light and tight till some water is added, and even then it stays light. Medium body and a soft lightly oiled feel.

FINISH: Med-short, Malty dried fruit and spice.

SUMMATION: The Glenmorangie Sonoma-Cutrer Reserve 25 Years is good, better but light. Everything comes through in hints and whispers.

GLENMORANGIE BARREL SELECT RELEASE 13 YO COGNAC CASK FINISH

Second Barrel Select Release

Step into the world of Glenmorangie 13 Year Old Barrel Select Cognac Finish, where Scottish whisky-making tradition meets the mellow charm of French Cognac. Unveiled in August 2021, this expression from the Glenmorangie Distillery brings together the fruit-forward fabulousness of Glenmorangie's single malt with the rich, spicy depth imparted by Cognac casks!

This exceptional single malt Scotch whisky, aged for 13 years, is the realisation of Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden's long-held vision to harmoniously blend the delicate, fruity essence of Glenmorangie with the soft, mellifluous character of Cognac.

Dr. Lumsden, in his pursuit of this unique fusion, faced a challenge: the potent influence of new French oak casks often risked overshadowing Glenmorangie's subtle spirit. His solution was both innovative and inspired. He handpicked casks that had been seasoned over multiple fillings, ensuring a milder wood influence. The whisky was initially aged in ex-bourbon casks for eight years plus, before being finished in the aforenoted Cognac casks for a further four odd years till fully ready and then bottled up at 46% ABV over a year. Evidently, the Cognac casks didn’t provide an even finish across the board and had to be constantly checked for consistency to preclude any off notes before being mixed for pre-bottling routine filtration in the main canister. This careful selection process allowed the casks to impart nuanced flavours, adding an exquisite complexity to the whisky without overwhelming its innate character. At 46% ABV, this small batch release is also presented with no chill-filtration; allowing for a richer mouthfeel and texture.

THE TASTING NOTES 70Cl,  13 YO,  46% ABV,  £75

ON THE EYE: Natural Colour.

NOSE: Apple tart and toffee are delectably deepened by a subtle note of forest floor. Then Glenmorangie's fruity bursts of baked apples, oranges and pears fill the air. A splash of water releases scents of butter candy, more sweet pastry and a touch of beeswax, delicately lightened by mint. A smidge of earthy forest floor and hints of yellow plum and leather.

PALATE: Sweet and almost sparkling, like toffee apples and baked pears scattered with almonds and slices of mandarin orange. That fruitiness is deliciously threaded with clove, star anise, soft hints of leather, buttery biscuits, flaked almonds atop warm pastries and caramelised fruit.

FINISH: Lingering oaky spices and a touch of red fruit sweetness. Long, satisfying, and exquisitely smooth.