The fourth instalment in the distillery's Barrel Select Release line of single-malt Highland Scotch whiskies, Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish, has been released, according to the company.
Dr. Bill Lumsden has always been an admirer of Amontillado sherry and has always loved its nuttier, spicier flavour. Years ago, he started to dream of a special, wonderful whisky that would blend the particular flavours of its casks with the distillery's mellow, honeyed taste. Opportunities are scarce, however, due to the scarcity of such casks.
“I have always loved the nuttier, spicier tastes of Amontillado – my favourite style of sherry. It’s such a delight to bring its casks’ sherried influences to our whisky’s signature delicate style for this special release.” ~ Dr. Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller for The Glenmorangie Company
Finally, Dr. Bill found a priceless selection of Amontillado casks. Then he put a delicate, smooth whisky that had spent eight years ageing in American white oak bourbon barrels into them. He then transferred it into the Amontillado casks and let it age there for a further four years until it developed the flavours he had been hoping for. The whisky's sherried notes of cashews, clove, ginger, and dried fruit are woven around Glenmorangie's traditional notes of peaches, orange, and lemon balsam in this manner of finishing.
Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish will only be sold at the distillery's visitor centre, online in the UK at Glenmorangie.com, and through The Whisky Club Australia for a retail price of £75.
About Dr. Bill Lumsden
Famous Scottish whisky maker Dr. Bill Lumsden serves as The Glenmorangie Company's Master Distiller. Since 1995, he has worked for the business and is in charge of directing the manufacturing of all Glenmorangie and Ardbeg bourbons.
Lumsden was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1959. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in microbiology and a doctorate in biochemistry. He conducted research on the effect of wood on the aging of whisky at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute prior to joining Glenmorangie.
Lumsden has played a key role in the creation of Glenmorangie's award-winning single malt whiskies throughout his career, developing procedures including wood finishing and extended aging in various types of casks. As a result of his experiments with uncommon cask finishes including wine, port, and Madeira casks, some of Glenmorangie's most distinctive and well-known whiskies have been produced.
Lumsden has garnered multiple awards for his efforts, including being named Distiller of the Year by the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2011 and being accepted into the Keepers of the Quaich, a respected society that acknowledges remarkable achievements to the Scotch whiskey industry.
About The Glenmorangie Distillery
At Tain, Rossshire, in the Scottish Highlands, there is a distillery for Scottish whisky called Glenmorangie. Since its establishment in 1843, the distillery has been making single malt Scotch whisky. Glenmorangie is renowned for its premium, complex whiskies, which are created using a special fusion of age-old processes and cutting-edge innovations.
The tallest copper stills in Scotland are one of Glenmorangie's most recognizable characteristics. The purer distillation procedure enabled by these stills is supposed to result in lighter, more refined whisky. The Tarlogie Springs, which are close to the distillery and are renowned for their softness and purity, provide the water used in the distilling process.
A variety of whiskies are produced by Glenmorangie, including the company's signature Glenmorangie Original, which is aged for ten years in former bourbon barrels before being finished for two more years in former sherry casks. The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, which is matured in port casks, and the Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or, which is aged in Sauternes wine casks, are two other well-known varieties.
Glenmorangie has also been experimenting in recent years with other kinds of barrels, including wine casks from various parts of the world. These trials have produced some unusual and intriguing whiskies, including the Glenmorangie Bacalta, which is finished in Malmsey Madeira casks, and the Glenmorangie Lasanta, which is finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
