Scottish whisky legend unveils his ‘Pride’

— Dr Bill Lumsden creates a modern masterpiece: Glenmorangie Pride 1981 —

Almost three decades in the making, Dr Bill Lumsden has unveiled his finest creation.

A very rare single malt, Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is a marriage of two of the most iconic names in whisky and wine – created by maturing Glenmorangie in Château d’Yquem Sauternes ‘barriques’.

Just 1,000 bottles of Glenmorangie Pride 1981 will be made available worldwide – many of which have already been snapped up by connoisseurs. A waiting list is now in place for the remaining bottles of this rare single malt, retailing at £2,500.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is the culmination of 28 years of passion and artistry from the Company’s whisky creation team headed by Dr Bill Lumsden, the only man to win leading US whisky magazine Malt Advocate’s “Industry Leader of the Year” Award three times.

Dr Lumsden was also honoured by the IWSC with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ – the UK industry equivalent of an Oscar. He describes Glenmorangie Pride 1981 as his signature whisky and his finest creation to date.

The genesis was October 1981, when the original whisky of Glenmorangie Pride 1981 was distilled and selected to mature in Glenmorangie’s finest oak casks. By 1999, the liquid had transformed into an exquisite vintage 18 Year Old.

Already recognised as a pioneer in his field it was Dr Lumsden’s idea to experiment with adding the Sauternes character to this whisky. He proceeded to obtain an extremely limited number of ‘barriques’ from the prestigious vineyard of Château d’Yquem.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “We are always looking to push boundaries and innovate, and Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is the pinnacle of those efforts. It is my personal pride and joy. Creating this whisky felt like bringing together two legends in their respective fields.

“The opportunity to mature this superb 18 Year Old whisky for a further ten years in Château d’Yquem barriques was too exciting to pass up. The resulting liquid, one of our most mature to date, is characterised by rich flavours of sumptuous desserts, and undertones of oak tannins, resulting from the extra-maturation process.”

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 was extra-matured in Château d’Yquem Sauternes barriques for a further ten years – which is also the longest period any Glenmorangie whisky has ever undergone extra-maturation. The resulting liquid is a rich, opulent deep gold colour with scents of apple tart, nutmeg and aniseed.

In order to highlight this superb single malt whisky it is presented in a striking Baccarat crystal decanter which is the work of talented French designer Laurence Brabant. Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is presented in a wooden gift box conceived by the Dutch designer, Wouter Scheublin, a rising star of furniture design.

Notes

Stockists of Pride:

Gleneagles, Gordon & MacPhail, Royal Mile Whiskies, Loch Fyne Whiskies, Scotch Whisky Experience.

About The Glenmorangie Company

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt. It also owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

About Glenmorangie Pride 1981

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is a beguiling whisky bottled at 56.7%, with captivating aromas and flavours. The influence of the Sauternes casks produces the delectable scent and full texture of desserts such as apple tart, with sprinklings of Demerara sugar, nutmeg and aniseed. These are underpinned by rich oak tones, reminiscent of antique furniture.

A splash of water releases a myriad of exotic fruits and spices – sherbet lemons, melon, kiwi, with background notes of liquorice and roasted chestnut. Glenmorangie Pride 1981 leaves a long, lingering finish, succulent and sweet with sultanas, toasted almonds and the memory of lemon and coconut desserts.

About Dr Bill Lumsden

In his role as Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation, Dr Lumsden oversees the creation of the entire Glenmorangie range. He is regarded as a pioneer in the malt whisky industry, touring the world in search of the best oak casks in which our whiskies will be given unique characteristics. He is also the only person to have been honoured three times with The Malt Advocate ‘Industry Leader of the Year’ Award. In 2010 the IWSC honoured him with an award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in the Scotch Whisky Industry.’

Responsible Drinking

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in-line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.