Glenmorangie’s botanical notes bring the wonder of the forest to life with the launch of A Tale of the Forest
Experimental single malt’s botanical notes bring
the wonder of the forest to life
— Deliciously herbaceous whisky inspires technicolour work by illustrator Pomme Chan —
Lush and deliciously herbaceous, Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is Glenmorangie’s first whisky ever crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. Inspired by the natural, everchanging wonder Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation encounters as he wanders the woods near his home, this experimental limited edition evokes the scents, sounds and sights of the forest itself. Dr Bill Lumsden created its notes of pine, juniper and wood smoke by bringing back an ancient method of kilning barley with botanicals. So delightful are these flavours they have led illustrator Pomme Chan to dream up her own fantastical forest, showcased on the whisky’s pack.
For over 175 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been endlessly imaginative in their quest to create delicious single malts – none more so than Dr Bill, known for his ‘What if…?’ approach to whisky. Some years ago, dreaming of a whisky which captured the wonder of a walk in the forest, Dr Bill recalled how ancient Highland whisky makers dried their barley with all kinds of forest fuel. He began experimenting by kilning his barley with many different botanicals. And he discovered the wondrously different flavours which juniper berries, birch bark and heather flowers could bring, when married with a little peat. In this way, he created a batch of spirit with rare aromas of pine needles and juniper, laced with wisps of smoke. Then he aged it in bourbon casks including many refill casks, chosen to allow the spirit’s flavours to shine.
Pairing up with Glenmorangie to bring the whisky’s flavours to life on its pack, Thai illustrator Pomme Chan walked deep into her favourite forest in northern Thailand and began to draw, taking inspiration from her surroundings and her conversations with Dr Bill about Scotland. Soon she created her own fantastical forest, which inspires the packaging’s design. A feast of sumptuous technicolour, her illustration echoes the flavours and botanicals of the whisky – with blossoming heather, fragrant juniper and oranges and pine cones dancing on the breeze.
Dr Bill said: “Every time I go into the woods where I live, I notice something new, be it the fragrance of last night’s rainfall or the sound of leaves rustling a particular way. I began to imagine how we could bring the forest to life in a whisky, by kilning barley with materials from woodland, the way our ancestors did. After many experiments, we fell in love with the flavours brought by juniper, birch bark and heather, to create a Glenmorangie as lush and leafy as the forest itself. With aromas of pine needles, woodland moss, juniper’s sharpness, and tastes of eucalyptus, mint, bitter orange and distant smoke, A Tale of the Forest is a whisky to surround, delight and surprise you, whether you enjoy it deep in a forest or in cocktails at home.”
Pomme said: “I’m so excited to be collaborating with Glenmorangie for this delicious limited edition. To me, a forest is all about the senses – the fragrance, as well as what you see and hear. Through my illustration, I wanted to convey the mysterious depth of the forest as well as the botanicals and flavours you can find in the whisky: heather, juniper, orange mint… I hope the pack draws people in and invites them to imagine themselves enjoying Glenmorangie A Tale of Forest on a hike or a picnic… in a forest, of course!”
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is available to purchase from 3rd October 2022 (via Selfridges exclusively until 17th October). Visit glenmorangie.com to see Pomme Chan’s artwork and discover a selection of botanical Glenmorangie cocktails created by renowned Swedish forager and mixologist Emil Åreng. Guests can also enjoy A Tale of the Forest at a takeover of the Green Bar at London’s Café Royal. A special cocktail menu and venue takeover will be running from the 12th October until the end of December 2022.
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Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is bottled at 46% ABV
Colour: Deep amber
Nose: Sweet malt, biscuit, creamy with a distinctively sharp botanical edge, like juniper or coriander. A splash of water releases myriad herbal and perfumed top notes, such as juniper, coriander, damp woodland, pine needles, nettle and mint. There are glacé cherries, with aromas reminiscent of sweet baking chestnuts and gentle wood smoke.
Taste: A zesty, peppery, effervescent mouthfeel leads into an explosion of flavours: peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, pine, wood sap, angelica, bitter orange and a hint of aromatic wood smoke. The taste sensation continues, with a bitter-sweet oak tannin flavour, along with some oily vanilla and hints of aniseed.
Finish: Long and lingering, with tangy citrus notes such as orange and lemon, and oak.
RRP: £75
About Glenmorangie:
Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.
Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s kind of delicious and wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to see themselves in Glenmorangie’s world.
About Dr Bill Lumsden:
Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout more than 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the magic of a snowy day (A Tale of Winter) the joy of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake), a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a beautiful barley field near the Distillery (Glenmorangie Allta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he has taken his place in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.
About the creation of Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest:
Endlessly enchanted by the sights, sounds and scents of the woodland near his home, Dr Bill has always imagined bringing them to life in a whisky. And many years ago, recalling how the ancient whisky makers would have used moss, fallen trees, heather and many other kinds of fuel found in the forest to dry their barley, he began to experiment by using different botanicals to kiln his grain. After a series of trials, he found that heather, juniper and birch bark gave the most deliciously aromatic and forest-like flavours. And with barley dried in this way, he distilled a precious batch of spirit. Dr Bill aged this rare spirit for years in a range of bourbon casks, including many refill casks, which he chose to showcase the spirit’s rare aromatic notes. As lush and leafy as the forest, his creation brims with notes of juniper and coriander from the juniper, sappy, green notes of damp woodland and pine needles from the birch wood and soft, herbal scents from the heather flowers. All these flavours are entwined with Glenmorangie’s signature citrus notes.
About Pomme Chan:
Pomme, who lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand, was identified as a young talent when studying in London. Known and respected in Asia for her unique skill in hand-drawing, she has previously collaborated with many global brands. Her eclectic style takes its inspiration from everyday life, nature, abstract shapes, architecture and free form. To find inspiration for her immersive technicolour artwork, she spent time drawing in Wat Chan Pine Forest, the country’s largest pine forest, located in Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. Through hand-drawing and digital techniques, Pomme’s illustration brings to life her own interpretation of the forest, featuring key botanicals and flavour notes (mint, eucalyptus, heather, orange, juniper, angelica and pine) from the whisky.
