1998 was a momentous year filled with interesting things. Google, Inc. is founded in Menlo Park, California. It was the year Britney Spears’s “...Baby One More Time” was released. DreamWorks reinvented the bible with “The Prince of Egypt,” Disney transformed our lives with “Mulan,” and Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” and finally Glenmorangie laid down some whisky in heavily charred virgin oak casks for one of the first times.
23 years later after being finished in oloroso sherry casks, Glenmorangie bottled that whisky and announced the release of the limited edition Grand Vintage Malt 1998. This 43% ABV, amber colored, spicy yet balanced and fruity whisky is the brainchild of Director of Whisky Creation Dr. Bill Lumsden. This is one of the earliest experiments he worked on at Glenmorangie distillery.
“New in post in 1998, I had all sorts of ideas for new and delicious whiskies. And one of my first experiments was with new charred oak casks. At the heart of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 is a parcel of that experimental whisky. Aged in those casks for 23 years, it gives the limited edition a wonderful spicy note and an amber glow. With aromas of apples and plums and tastes of orange chocolate and clove, this whisky brings a new dimension to Glenmorangie’s elegance.” ~ Dr. Bill Lumsden
This release is the latest release of the Bond House No. 1 vintage series. The series is named after the largest of the Distillery’s 19th-century Bonded Warehouses. For years Warehouse No. 1 homed maturing casks, then was transformed into a majestic new stillhouse in 1990.
While this bottle will cost you a pretty penny it will transport you to a different era of whisky experimentation and be a stunning addition to any whisky collection or bar cart.
A bit about Glenmorangie: In 1843 farmer William Matheson and his wife Anne followed their dreams and founded the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, Scotland. Glenmorangie whisky is still made there to this day. Glenmorangie boasts the tallest copper stills in Scotland. With necks as tall as a giraffe, they create more space for taste and aroma. The water for the Glenmorangie whisky comes from the Tarlogie Spring which is unusually rich in minerals, which help to make the whisky fruity. Glenmorangie is dedicated to giving back, close to home and afar. They have protected the woods and lands all around their water source in an effort to protect the environment. They have also partnered with a Conservation Foundation charity, which aims to secure a future for Glenmorangie's spirit animal, the giraffe. They want to protect all wild giraffe populations in Africa.
