Glenmorangie Whisky

Glenmorangie Whisky

A world best-seller and top single malt in the UK. the distillery was built on the site of a brewery in 1843 situated on the southern shore of the Dornoch Firth. It was established by William Mathieson, who was attracted by the unusually hard, mineral rich water of the nearby Tarlogie Spring.

Glenmorangie Whisky

 Lacking capital, Mathieson bought a pair of second-hand gin stills, with the tallest swan-necks in Scotland. These have been faithfully reproduced ever since, although heated by internal steam coils since 188"1 (Glenmorangie was among the first to introduce this). 

The distillery was acquired in 1918 by the Leith blender Macdonald & Muir which rebuilt it in 1979 and increased the number of stills to four the following year, and to eight by 1993. 

Glenmorangie Whisky

Although it has been available as a single since at least the 1880s, it was in the mid-1970s that Macdonald & Muir resolved to promote Glenmorangie worldwide. It has also pioneered the technique of 'finishing' whisky in other woods by re-racking for the final years of maturation, which means that there are interesting expressions available. Currently Glenmorangie is bottled at 10 (and 10 Years 100 proof) and 18 Years, Port-wood Finish , Sherry-wood Finish, Madeira-wood Finish,

 

Rhone-wood Finish, Claret-wood Finish and 1974 Vintage. Also issued were 1963, 1971 and 1972 Vintages but these are now rare. A small visitor centre at the distillery was opened in 1995.

  

Tasting Notes

Prop @ 10 Years: Pale gold, with floral and citric notes, especially mandarin oranges, and a faint whiff of smoke. Medium-bodied and complex, easy to drink and well balanced, with traces of almonds, spice and woodsmoke. Fresh overall, and dryish.

Prop @ 18 Years: Full gold, still faintly citric, with sherry, marzipan, heather-honey, nuts, caramel, sandalwood and wood-smoke. The mouthfeel is smooth and mellow, with traces of custard creams, but it retains a minty freshness.