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19th August 2024 |
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Glenmorangie
delves into the exquisite flavours of
Europe’s esteemed wine regions with a
rare Glenmorangie Pursuit of Passion
Collection. Limited to just 600 sets,
this trio of whiskies pays homage to the
Master Distiller’s deep passion for
wine.
Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch
whisky is honouring its Master
Distiller's, Dr. Bill Lumsden, love for
fine wine with the release of a trio of
aged whiskies: the Glenmorangie Pursuit
of Passion Wine Cask Collection.
Dr. Bill Lumsden, a wine enthusiast and
a bit of a trailblazer in wood-finishing
whisky, has long been captivated by the
diverse flavours that wine casks bring
to Glenmorangie. This Glenmorangie
Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection
is said to reflect his journey through
some of Europe’s most prestigious wine
regions in search of casks that would
elevate his whisky to new heights of
flavour. The collection features three
of Dr. Bill’s most cherished
experiments, each aged over 25 years and
there will be 600 sets of this trio of
whiskies available, a tribute to his
passion and decades of mastery in wine
cask finishing.
For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie’s
whisky creators have pushed the
boundaries of innovation in their quest
to craft increasingly exquisite single
malts. They produce a delicate and
fruity spirit in stills as tall as
giraffes, allowing for a greater
concentration of taste and aroma, which
is then aged in the finest casks from
around the world. During the late 1980s
and 1990s, Glenmorangie led the way in
the Scotch whisky industry with their
pioneering work in wood finishing,
adding new layers of complexity to their
signature spirit by transferring aged
whisky into different casks. Under Dr.
Bill’s guidance, his team has perfected
this art.
Years ago, Dr. Bill embarked on a
journey through Europe’s most renowned
wine regions, sourcing exceptional casks
from celebrated areas such as Burgundy
and Bordeaux in France, and Piedmont in
Italy. He then filled these casks with
whisky, envisioning the unique flavours
that could be achieved through extended
wood finishes. In the Pursuit of
Passion’s 600 sets, he unveils three of
his most remarkable experiments:
Glenmorangie Margaux Wine Cask Finish,
Glenmorangie Corton-Charlemagne Wine
Cask Finish, and Glenmorangie Barbaresco
Wine Cask Finish. Aged 29, 28, and 27
years respectively, these rare creations
are said to be distinguished by their
extraordinary depth and complexity.
- Glenmorangie
Margaux Wine Cask Finish: This rich,
mellow, and complex 29 Year Old
whisky was distilled in February
1995, the same month Dr. Bill joined
Glenmorangie as Distillery Manager.
Initially aged in bourbon casks, it
was transferred in 2004 into a
select few red wine casks from
Margaux, one of Bordeaux's most
prestigious appellations. With over
20 years of finishing in these wine
casks—the longest for any
Glenmorangie whisky—this creation
unveils intense flavours of
chocolate, plums, and sweet chili.
- Glenmorangie
Corton-Charlemagne Wine Cask Finish:
The only whisky in this collection
finished in white wine casks, this
spicy, smooth, and full-bodied 28
Year Old was also distilled in 1995.
After initial aging in bourbon
casks, it was transferred in 2005
into grand cru white Burgundy casks
from the esteemed Corton-Charlemagne
appellation in Burgundy, France.
Glenmorangie’s first experiment with
such casks, Dr. Bill was eager to
see how they would influence the
whisky’s soft, signature style.
Finished for over 18 years in these
casks, this expression is rich with
notes of jasmine, soft smoke, and
clove.
- Glenmorangie
Barbaresco Wine Cask Finish:
Distilled in 1996, this dry,
powerful, and rich 27 Year Old
whisky began its journey in bourbon
casks. In 2005, Dr. Bill selected a
portion to be transferred into
high-quality Italian red wine casks
from Barbaresco, located in
Piedmont’s famous wine region. These
casks, never before used at the
distillery, were chosen for the
deep, luscious flavours they could
impart to Glenmorangie. After an
extraordinarily long finish of over
18 years, this whisky resonates with
hints of leather, rich spices, and
eucalyptus.
Glenmorangie’s
Pursuit of Passion collection is
presented in a handcrafted oak case,
designed to be a striking centrepiece.
The marquetry on the back and sides
subtly alludes to the staves used in
wine cask construction, while the front
of the case artfully represents the
diverse landscapes of the three distinct
wine regions, symbolising the
extraordinary flavour journey contained
within each bottle.
Dr Bill Lumsden said: "My passion for
single malt whisky is perhaps only
matched by my passion for fine wine. And
my travels through the world’s finest
vineyards have inspired many experiments
with finishing whisky in wine casks. Of
all my experiments, the whiskies in our
Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection
are among my most prized and delicious.
With exceptionally long finishes in
precious casks from some of France and
Italy’s most renowned wine regions, I’m
sure that their complexity will delight
and intrigue lovers of both whisky and
wine."
The Glenmorangie Pursuit of Passion Wine
Cask Collection has a RRP of £7,740 per
set and will be available
through the Moët Hennessy Private Client
channel from Autumn 2024. It will also
be available to purchase at
Glenmorangie’s Boutique at Heathrow
Airport, Terminal 2, as well as specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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Glenmorangie Margaux Wine Cask
Finish Review
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29 Year Old
Bottled at 52.5% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich,
mellow and complex, with a veritable
symphony of fruity and woody notes such
as baked apple, pears, apricot and plum,
honeydew melon, sweet aged balsamic
vinegar and the gentlest touch of oak.
There is a delicate, perfumed top note
like honeysuckle and the merest hint of
stewing black tea leaves. A splash of
water then opens up some more curious
woody notes, almost like furniture
polish or tree resin.
Taste: The
texture is peppery, tingly and warming
and leads into an explosion of ripe,
fruity flavours: apricot, peach, plum,
cherries, baked red apples, juicy melon,
followed by chocolate ganache, hints of
ginger and sweet chilli, but always with
a balancing tartness, reminiscent of
sour cherries and citrus.
Finish: Long,
zesty and woody or nutty, with hints of
roasting chestnuts, eucalyptus and cocoa
powder.
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Glenmorangie Corton-Charlemagne Wine
Cask Finish Review
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28 Year Old.
Bottled at 52.1% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Astonishingly
aromatic and perfumed, with hints of
pear, honeysuckle, juniper and gorse
flowers, supported by some altogether
bolder, oak-derived notes, like vanilla,
almond and some gentle leather. With a
few drops of water, some gentle floral
notes are encountered, like carnation
and jasmine, and finally the gentlest
hint of struck match.
Taste: The
texture is smooth and oily, as it coats
the mouth with delicious, sweet and
spicy flavours like honeycomb, poached
pears in syrup, cocoa powder and spiced
fruit bread. The sweetness continues
with touches of almond marzipan and
morello cherries.
Finish: The
mellow aftertaste reveals the gentlest
hints of leather and clove along with a
touch of eucalyptus.
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Glenmorangie Barbaresco Wine Cask
Finish Review
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27 Year Old.
Bottled at 51.3% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Deep,
powerful, spicy and rich, with notes of
toffee, black fruits such as cherries,
plums and damsons, graphite, black
pepper and cinnamon. As the bouquet
opens up, hints of vanilla, milk
chocolate and baked pears are
encountered, along with a hint of aged
balsamic vinegar. With a splash of
water, some altogether more earthy notes
are encountered, like a damp forest
floor. This is followed by a burst of
eucalyptus and mint.
Taste: The
mouthfeel is huge, spicy and slightly
drying, and leads into a myriad of
complex flavours. Chocolate sweetness is
tempered by a grape-must dryness, along
with hints of leather, mint-flavoured
toffee, Christmas cake, ginger, nutmeg
and clove. The classic Glenmorangie
citrus fruit note comes across as
candied orange peel.
Finish: Long
and mellow with hints of chestnuts, oak
tannin and aniseed.
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