Glenmorangie’s vintage collection reveals a whisky of implausible harmony
— Rich plum limited edition celebrates Highland Distillery’s wood-finish pioneers —
A Highland single malt which marries two profoundly different whiskies in
implausible harmony, is today revealed as the fourth release in Glenmorangie’s celebrated Bond House No. 1 vintage collection.
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 takes its rich plum character from two parcels of whisky which, ordinarily, would never be brought together. One was finished in oloroso sherry casks for sweetness and spice. It seems utterly incongruous with the other, finished in Burgundy casks for earthy and truffle notes. Yet, united with skill, their contrasts create this surprisingly mellow 26-year-old limited edition – the latest in a collection exploring some of the Distillery’s most prized parcels of aged whisky.
Glenmorangie is renowned as one of the pioneers of wood-finishing. In 1991, when this whisky’s spirit was distilled, that art was still in its infancy. But even then, the Distillery’s whisky creators were alive to the possibilities that a wood finish could bring. And so, they began a period of intense experimentation, intent on creating new techniques and flavours.
Years later, Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, was inspired to revisit some of these parcels of 1991’s whisky, selecting two contrasting styles to create this vintage release. Both long-aged in bourbon casks, each had been finished in oloroso sherry casks or in Burgundy casks for more than a decade. With a master distiller’s flair, he married them, softened by a hint of whisky aged in new toasted oak, to create an expression of rich intensity.
Dr Bill said: “Bringing together two such incongruous whiskies goes somewhat against convention which, in part, is what drew me to the challenge of combining them. The result is a single malt with a rich plum character, deep, mellow aromas and tastes of ripe fruits and milk chocolate. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 honours those early pioneers who dedicated themselves to the art of the wood finish in 1991, whose work still guides us today.”
Created with the collector in mind, Glenmorangie’s Bond House No. 1 series showcases some of the Distillery’s most scarce vintages. The collection takes its name from the largest of Glenmorangie’s 19th century Bonded Warehouses. For generations, Warehouse No. 1 was home to the Distillery’s casks of maturing spirit until, in 1990, it was transformed into a majestic new still house. Today, Bonded Warehouse No. 1 is the heart of the Distillery’s whisky creation.
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 will be available to purchase online at www.Clos19.com and from whisky specialists, from 9th April onwards, RRP: £630.
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NOTES:
Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 is bottled at 43% ABV.
Colour: Ochre
Nose: Mellow, deep, intense and fruity. Lots of apricots, plum and baked apples, with chocolate, gentle oak, and a hint of truffles and star anise. A splash of water releases deeper notes, reminiscent of hickory-smoked ham and a damp forest floor.
Taste: A slightly peppery mouthfeel leads to a burst of fruity flavours intermingled with lots of milk chocolate, stewed apples, plum and ripe, red fruits such as cherry and raspberry.
Finish: A hint of zesty citrus and finally an intriguing combination of oak, fruit and sweet spices.
RRP:
It will be available from whisky specialist shops and www.Clos19.com, RRP: £630.
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 whiskies,
has been created for connoisseurs and collectors. It is named after Bonded Warehouse No. 1 – the largest of Glenmorangie’s traditional 19th-century warehouses – transformed into the Distillery’s majestic new still house in 1990. Fittingly, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990,
released in 2016, was the first expression in the collection. It was lauded by industry experts, winning first place at the International Whisky Competition (IWC), in the category Single Malt Whisky (Highland) and gold medals at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the
San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1989, the collection’s second expression, released in 2018, was rewarded with a gold award at the International Spirits Challenge. At the IWC, it won Best Single Malt Scotch 25 Years and Over. Most recently, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1993, released exclusively in Travel Retail in 2018, was awarded gold at the 2018 Global Travel Retail Spirits Masters.
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 renowned as a pioneer 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 wood finishing. Dr Bill has won a series of prestigious awards and accolades. Most recently, he was named as Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge for 2018 – an award he also won in 2015. He has also won 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 Glenmorangie’s pioneering work in extra-maturation:
Glenmorangie was among the pioneers of the wood finish – and has been leading the field in wood finishing for more than 30 years. Here are some of its earliest milestones in pursuit of this art:
1987: The Distillery releases its first wood-finished whisky, Glenmorangie 1963. Finished in oloroso sherry casks, it is among those at the forefront of a new category.
1990: Glenmorangie releases Glenmorangie 18 Years Old, part-finished in sherry casks.
1991: Intent on furthering the art of wood finishing, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators begin a
period of intense study and experimentation. Their discoveries inform Glenmorangie’s
whisky creation even now.
1994: Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is released – believed to be the world’s first.
1995: Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish is released – believed to be another first.
1996: The Wood Finish Range is released. Consisting of a sherry-cask finish, a port-cask finish and a Madeira-cask finish, it is the first range of different wood-finished Scotch whiskies.
Building on the expertise developed in 1991, Glenmorangie has continued to innovate with wood-finished whiskies over the past 20 years. Today, the complex depths a wood finish creates can be enjoyed in pioneering single malts throughout the Distillery’s range, delighting both connoisseurs and those who are new to single malt.
