Glenmorangie reimagines its signature whisky for even more deliciousness
— The Original reaches a luscious new flavour pinnacle as a 12-year-old whisky —
Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky has reimagined its smooth, luscious flagship Glenmorangie Original to make it more delicious than ever. The Distillery’s whisky creators are always exploring ways to bring new flavours and possibilities to their single malt. And in the course of their experiments, they concluded that their signature whisky’s tastes were even more luscious at 12 years old than at 10. Shared worldwide to delight whisky fans old and new, Glenmorangie’s silkier, creamier The Original 12 Years Old catapults this single malt’s much-loved notes of orange, honey, vanilla and peach to a new pinnacle of flavour. What is more, its wondrous tastes and aromas have already been recognised with a prized industry award.
For 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky makers have been endlessly imaginative on their quest for deliciousness. They craft their more delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma. Then they age it in the finest casks. The epitome of Glenmorangie’s house style, The Original has long been the Distillery’s flagship expression. But some time ago, the Whisky Creation Team began to wonder whether they could make that award-winning classic even more of a joy to drink.
As part of this mission, Glenmorangie’s expert tasting panel began a series of experiments with The Original. They revealed that this smooth single malt gains extra silkiness, sweetness and complexity when aged for 12 years instead of 10. And so, Glenmorangie decided to share a reimagined Original, to bring more joy to whisky drinkers around the world. Swirling with creamy vanilla and a rush of citrus, layered with honey and peach, this single malt takes The Original’s kaleidoscope of flavours to new heights of deliciousness. The whisky has been met with delight by the critics, who gave it a coveted gold medal at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards 2024.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, said: “In 1984 when I was studying in Edinburgh for my PhD, I tasted single malt scotch whisky for the very first time. That whisky was Glenmorangie. I’ll never forget my first magical sip and how I became beguiled by its complex range of flavours. During my many years at Glenmorangie, I have always aimed to keep the whisky true to my memory of that first taste. However, recently my team and I started to wonder whether we could reimagine our flagship expression, The Original, for even more deliciousness. The result is The Original 12 Years Old! Smoother, creamier and even more complex, I like to think it “turns up the volume” on our signature whisky’s classic notes of orange, vanilla, peach and honey.”
Glenmorangie Original 12 Years Old will be available from Glenmorangie.com and the Distillery Visitor Centre from 9th July, then available elsewhere in the UK from August onwards, RRP: £40.
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THE ORIGINAL
Creamy with vanilla and a rush of citrus, The Original is where all our whisky-making adventures begin. First released by our founders more than 175 years ago, the original Glenmorangie was known for its mellow tones and delicacy of flavour. All these years later, The Original remains at the heart of everything we do. Like home, we carry it with us, no matter how far we travel.
To give The Original a delicious, go-anywhere finesse, we craft its spirit in our giraffe-high stills. Then we age it 12 years in bourbon casks where it absorbs all manner of delectable flavours. The result is a whisky which welcomes you with luscious layers of orange and honey, vanilla and bursts of peach. A smooth single malt, swirling with a kaleidoscope of taste.
TASTING NOTES
Glenmorangie Original is bottled at 40% ABV
Colour: Bright gold.
Aroma: Citrus and ripening peaches are balanced by vanilla softness.
Taste: Vanilla emerges, then gives way to a burst of flowery fruitiness.
Glenmorangie The Original 12 Years Old has already been rewarded with a prestigious gold medal at the World Whiskies Awards 2024.
RRP: £40
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 Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creators:
Our 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 magic of a walk in the woods (A Tale of the Forest) 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.
At the helm of the team is Dr Bill Lumsden, 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.
