Glenmorangie’s Vintage Collection honours former
still house’s final spirit
— Second release in Bond House No. 1 Collection showcases whisky part-matured in ex-Côte-Rôtie casks —
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Spirit from the final days of Glenmorangie’s former still house is celebrated in the inimitable cask assemblage of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989, the first Glenmorangie expression to be part-matured in rare ex-Côte-Rôtie casks. This rich and complex single malt whisky is the second limited release in Glenmorangie’s prized Vintage Collection – Bond House No.1 – which explores some of the Highland Distillery’s most prestigious parcels of aged whisky. Marked for greatness from their year of origin, each expression has been captured in its prime by Glenmorangie’s whisky creators – and is deemed ready to share only at the perfect moment of maturation.
The story of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 begins with some of the last spirit ever to emerge from the Distillery’s former still house, home to Scotland’s tallest stills for more than a century. Soon after the expression’s spirit was distilled, Glenmorangie’s signature stills were moved from this venerable, yet modest-sized building, signalling the end of an era. Instead, as the Distillery sought to meet whisky lovers’ growing desire for its single malt, Warehouse No.1, the largest of Glenmorangie’s 19th century Bonded Warehouses – and namesake of the Vintage Collection – was transformed into the renowned still house which houses the stills used today to create Glenmorangie’s spirit.
While this distinctive vintage lay maturing in the finest casks, its extraordinary flavour captured the imagination of Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks: he vowed to celebrate its character in a remarkable assemblage, which would honour the former still house’s legacy. Harnessing his renowned creativity, he arranged for select parcels of 1989’s spirit to be finished in a handful of highly sought-after casks – the most prestigious of which once contained Côte-Rôtie wines. Just as they reached their prime, he reunited these exquisite parcels in a momentous single malt, distinguished by its intriguing softness, oaky depths and hints of ripe, red fruits.
Dr Bill said: “After 27 years of patient maturation, I knew that Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 was ready to share. Each cask in the assemblage had been carefully chosen to complement the exquisite depths brought to the whisky by the parcel finished in ex-Côte-Rôtie casks. The resulting expression beautifully balances the subtle finesse of Glenmorangie’s spirit with a rare richness and intensity. Connoisseurs will delight in its smoky and sweet aromas – extraordinarily varied for a whisky of such age. It is peppery on the palate, with glorious, full tastes of baked apples and buttery fudge, leading to a long and powerful finish brimming with honey, notes of leather and classic wood spices.”
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1989 will be available from specialist retailers and Clos 19 (www.clos19.com) from Friday 6th April, RSP: £550.
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NOTES:
Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 is chill-filtered and bottled at 43% ABV.
Colour: Russet
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, almond, and a curious, perfumed top note. Some classic, buttery notes of vanilla and fudge, then a burst of fruit notes. Baked apples, red fruits, blackcurrants, some tropical fruits, fragrant wood smoke, freshly baked bread and beeswax.
Taste: An oily, viscous mouthfeel with a gentle peppery sensation on the palate. More baked apples, fudge and gentle citrus flavours.
Finish: Floral orange blossom and honey, hints of eucalyptus oil and sweet aniseed, along with some leather and oak. With water, more tropical fruits and an intensified citrus note, like dried zest of clementine. The long finish ends with classic wood spices and oak shavings.
About the Bond House No.1 Collection:
The Bond House No.1 Collection is an exclusive collection of vintage expressions, all exceptionally fine and smooth. The series, which celebrates Glenmorangie’s most prestigious aged whisky, has been created for connoisseurs and collectors. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990, released in 2016, was the first expression in the collection. It has been lauded by industry experts, winning first place at the International Whisky Competition, in the category Single Malt Whisky 12 Years and Over, and gold medals at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 is the Collection’s second release.
About Glenmorangie:
Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at
the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland for a purer spirit, expertly matured in the finest oak casks for great depth and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is among the pioneers in its field, uniting tradition with innovation.
About Dr Bill Lumsden:
Dr Bill Lumsden is Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation, Distilling & Whisky Stocks. Dr Bill is regarded by the malt whisky industry as an innovator, creating whiskies which have revolutionised the single-malt market. In recognition of his team’s work, The Glenmorangie Company was named Distiller of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012. Dr Bill, who has a PhD in biochemistry, has combined art and science in his work since he joined The Glenmorangie Company in 1995. He is renowned for his groundbreaking wood management techniques, experimentation with exceptional casks at various ages, and use of extra-maturation. Dr Bill has won a series of prestigious awards and accolades. He recently added to his plaudits by winning the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year 2016 and 2017. He was further honoured with the title of Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2016 awards.
About the creation of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989:
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989 has its own unique story to tell. Created from select parcels of 1989’s distinctive spirit – some of the last ever distilled in Glenmorangie’s traditional still house – this exquisite expression is the Distillery’s first single malt whisky ever to be part-matured in ex-Côte-Rôtie wine casks. Wines from the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation (French for ‘roasted slopes’) are named after the steep hillsides on which the vineyards are located – and the long hours of sunshine they receive. The wines are created from the rare co-fermentation of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, bringing forth contrastingly floral and meaty aromas. Glenmorangie has never before harnessed the power of ex-Côte-Rôtie casks – and Dr Bill was inspired to discover the character they might bring to Glenmorangie’s soft spirit, by judiciously finishing a tiny parcel of 1989 spirit within. He then united this precious parcel with spirit from the same vintage, finished in a handful of other prestigious casks, such as superior ex-wine casks, finest ex-Oloroso sherry casks and superior ex-bourbon casks. And in this remarkable assemblage, he realised his vision for the powerful complexity of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989.
About Glenmorangie’s traditional still house:
At the centre of the Distillery, today welcoming visitors from around the world, are the sandstone walls of Glenmorangie’s former still house. This traditional building was constructed in 1887. That year, the Distillery was rebuilt by its new owners – a consortium of businessmen who bought it from Ann Matheson, widow of Glenmorangie’s founder William Matheson, who ran the Distillery for 25 years after her husband’s death in 1862. At first, this still house contained just two of Glenmorangie’s signature copper stills, the tallest in Scotland. Then, as the world’s appetite for Glenmorangie grew, their number increased to four, in 1977. In 1990, Bonded Warehouse No.1 was transformed into a new still house, capable of housing further stills – and the former still house, for so long a vital part of Glenmorangie’s story, prepared for its own renaissance. Converted into a part of the new reception centre and museum soon after, it now brings the Distillery’s past alive
for the many visitors who journey across the globe, to discover the place in which Glenmorangie has been crafted since 1843.
About Bonded Warehouse No.1:
Warehouse No.1 was the largest of the traditional 19th century Bonded Warehouses at the Glenmorangie Distillery, with a capacity of up to 2,000 casks. It was unusually tall, with three storeys. In 1990, Warehouse No.1 was transformed into the Distillery’s still house, allowing Glenmorangie to meet the surging demand for its finest single malt from whisky aficionados around the world. As the very heart of the Distillery, this majestic building became home to eight of Glenmorangie’s signature tall stills. The exceptional height of the building and of Glenmorangie’s stills – renowned as the tallest in Scotland, with necks the same height as an adult male giraffe – has led it to be known fondly as Glenmorangie’s Highland cathedral. Today, there are 12 stills.
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.
