Glenmorangie bottles the spice market’s mosaic of flavours in latest limited-edition whisky
— Finished for the first time in four different cask types, Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is the sixth release in the imaginative series —
An aromatic whirl of spice and sweetness, Glenmorangie’s latest limited edition captures the mosaic of flavours and colours found at a vibrant spice market. Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is the sixth release in the Highland Distillery’s award-winning ‘A Tale Of…’ series, showcasing its whisky creators’ relentless imagination. Inspired by the sensory delights of these bustling marketplaces, this whisky is made from a marriage of Glenmorangie finished in four different cask types for the first time, including an experimental Glenmorangie aged in Moroccan red wine casks. Fragrant with notes of ginger, saffron, nutmeg and sugared almonds, A Tale of Spices brings distinctive layers of complexity to Glenmorangie’s elegant style.
For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been endlessly imaginative in their quest to create pioneering single malts – as elegant as they are inviting. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, they are constantly challenging themselves to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky. Their A Tale Of… series is the trailblazing result. Driven by curiosity and a passion for creating new flavours, the series’ whiskies can be inspired by a memory or experience – from the delights of an ice-cream parlour, to the cosy feeling of being warm as snow falls outside, and more.
Travelling the world in search of extraordinary casks to bring new flavours to Glenmorangie, Dr Bill has always been drawn to spice markets, with their fragrant aromas and rainbow hues. Envisioning a whisky infused with such variety, he and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald experimented by finishing bourbon-aged Glenmorangie in four different types of cask for the first time. Never used before at Glenmorangie, Moroccan red wine casks crafted from French oak give this creation mouth-watering layers of spice. New charred oak casks add another spicy dimension. Shaved, toasted red wine casks offer nuanced, fruity notes, while Pedro Ximénez sherry casks bring rich, sweet depths.
From this unusual cask combination comes a uniquely complex Glenmorangie – perfumed, sweet, and spicy. A Tale of Spices brims with notes of cumin, saffron, nutmeg, ginger and chilli. Floral hints of rose and jasmine are lifted by sugar-coated almonds and a distinct eucalyptus note. Ideal for gifting, the whisky is housed in a presentation box featuring a mosaic of vibrant, warm hues. In this way it evokes the vividly coloured, conical mounds of spices found in the most exquisite spice markets.
Dr Bill said: “I have always loved the variety of colours and aromas I’ve found in spice markets around the globe. Some years ago, Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and I experimented with Moroccan red wine casks for the first time and became captivated by the fragrant, spiced notes that they imparted to our whisky. From there, we created an unusual cask recipe of new charred oak, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and shaved, toasted red wine casks to create a mosaic of flavours. Each sip of this limited edition is like immersing yourself in the sensory delights of a spice market – with new flavours and aromas at every turn. There are complex, earthy notes of ginger, nutmeg and cumin, with sweet floral hints and sugared almonds floating over the top. A sensory delight for single malt lovers to explore and enjoy.”
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices has already been recognised with a Gold award at the International Spirits Competition 2025.
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices will be available from 2nd September to purchase online at glenmorangie.com, at the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain and in many e-retailers and specialist whisky shops, RRP: £76.
The limited edition has also inspired a menu of aromatic cocktails celebrating spice markets’ scents and colours. They can be found at glenmorangie.com.
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TASTING NOTES
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is bottled at 46% ABV
Colour: Mustard Gold
Aroma: Spicy, sweet and wonderfully perfumed, with notes of rose, carnation, jasmine and lilac, along with myriad spices – cumin, saffron, nutmeg, ginger, chilli and anise, along with some gentle sweet oak and chestnut. With a few drops of water, some delicate fruits emerge, along with a touch of menthol and bread dough.
Taste: The mouthfeel bursts with sizzling spices, lots of ginger, black pepper and mustard seed, which gives a bold earthiness to the flavour. This is backed up by a soft sweetness like mint toffee and demerara sugar along with some sugar-coated almonds. The whole palate is lifted by a distinct eucalyptus note.
Finish: Filled with hints of clove, leather and peppermint.
About Glenmorangie:
Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up single malt whiskies as elegant as they are inviting. They’ve been honing their craft for 180 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 pioneering team are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.
In 2025, Glenmorangie unveiled a new brand campaign, ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland’, fronted by Hollywood icon Harrison Ford. Taking the form of 12 episodes, the series explores Glenmorangie’s authentic truths, from its stunning Highland surroundings to the real people who create its complex and elegant whiskies.
About Glenmorangie’s whisky creators:
Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creation Team’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And they are constantly challenging themselves to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the elegant pleasures of the ice-cream parlour (Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream), the beguiling flavours of freshly brewed coffee (Glenmorangie Signet) and more.
At the helm of the team is Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Director of Whisky Creation. 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.
Working hand-in-hand with Dr Bill is Gillian Macdonald, The Glenmorangie Company’s Master Blender. Gillian combines art and science in her role, with her main responsibilities including the daily sensory analysis of the new-make spirit, core range recipes and the co-ordination of the Company’s sensory panel. Both Bill and Gillian manage the New Product Development pipeline for Glenmorangie which involves nosing hundreds of casks a year for final recipe selection.
About the making of Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices:
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is the Distillery’s first whisky created from four different cask finishes. Inspired to bring complex spice and sweetness to a single malt, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators first aged whisky in bourbon casks. Then they finished select parcels in four separate types of casks. Together, their skilful combination of cask finishes creates a whisky of distinctive complexity, reminiscent of the aromatic delights of spice markets. They include:
- Moroccan red wine casks: rarely used in the world of whisky. It is the first time Glenmorangie has been finished in the casks’ medium-toasted French oak. Since the wood was high in tannins, it brings a unique spice to Glenmorangie’s elegant spirit;
- Shaved, toasted red wine casks: (also known as dechar/rechar casks). Occasionally used to bring their nuanced sweetness to a whisky. The process involves removing the wood from the surface of a wine barrel, and then toasting it again. This creates a rare harmony between the wine notes and oak flavours which the wood gives the whisky. They were used in the creation of Glenmorangie’s innovative Private Edition release Glenmorangie Milsean;
- New charred oak casks: These bring additional spice to whisky – memorably used by Glenmorangie in its Travel Retail Exclusive Glenmorangie Elementa and, from the core range, Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve;
- Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. These casks are known for their rich, sweet flavours. They add a fruity sweetness to the whisky.
About Glenmorangie’s A Tale Of… series:
This award-winning series of experimental limited editions showcases the relentless imagination of Glenmorangie’s talented whisky creators. Crafted to bring joy to whisky lovers old and new, its single malts have inspired playful collaborations with fellow creatives, as well as a host of delicious cocktails.
- The series began with Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, released in 2020. Capturing the magic of a cake moment, this sweet, multi-layered whisky finished in Tokaji dessert wine casks, is lusciously reminiscent of cake. Renowned pastry chef Dominique Ansel created a series of cocktail and cake pairings, known as CakeTails, to accompany the whisky.
- Second in the series, Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter encapsulates the magical feeling of sitting in front of the fireplace as snow blankets the world outside. Finished in Marsala wine casks, it swirls with a flurry of wintry aromas and flavours. The whisky’s knitted-style packaging inspired designer Donna Wilson to create knitted clothing and accessories.
- Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is the series’ third whisky. Inspired by Dr Bill’s walks in the woods near his home, it is Glenmorangie’s first single malt crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. With flavours as lush and leafy as a forest, the whisky’s artwork featured a fantastical, technicolour forest illustration created by Thai illustrator Pomme Chan.
- The series’ fourth whisky is Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo. Marrying Glenmorangie’s first whisky aged in sought-after Japanese Mizunara oak casks with bourbon and sherry casks, it is as full of contradictions as Tokyo – a favourite city of Dr Bill. Inspired by the whisky, artist Yamaguchi Akira created a stunning cityscape of Tokyo, which is depicted on the whisky’s packaging. It won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream is the fifth whisky in the series. To evoke the flavours of an ice-cream parlour in a whisky, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators married whisky aged in bourbon casks with a parcel of whisky finished in high-vanillin casks. These virgin oak casks were toasted especially to create higher concentrations of vanillin – an aromatic compound which brings vanilla flavours to whisky.
