Mosaic of flavours: Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices
The sixth edition of Glenmorangie’s A Tale Of series uses four different cask types to create a single malt inspired by spice markets.
An aromatic blend of spice and sweetness, Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices captures the vibrant flavours and colours found at a bustling spice market. As the sixth expression in the series, the single malt showcases the boundless imagination of the distillery’s creative team, led by director of whisky creation Dr Bill Lumsden MBE and master blender Gillian Macdonald, bringing distinctive layers of complexity to Glenmorangie’s elegant style.
For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie has been a pioneer in Scotch single malt whisky, guided by a spirit of experimentation and imagination. The distillery’s A Tale Of series represents the culmination of decades of innovation, fuelled by curiosity and a passion for creating new flavours that resonate with whisky enthusiasts.
To create A Tale of Spices, Lumsden drew upon his travel memories filled with the fragrant aromas and vibrant colours of spice markets. With the vision of transforming the rich mosaic of flavours into whisky, he and Macdonald experimented by finishing Bourbon-aged Glenmorangie in four different types of casks for the first time.
For this unique creation, the duo selected Moroccan red wine casks made from French oak, which imparted mouth-watering layers of spice to the whisky. New charred oak casks added an additional spicy dimension, while STR (shaved, toasted, and recharred) red wine casks introduced nuanced fruity notes. To complete the bouquet, Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks were chosen to bring richness and sweetness to the final creation.
The resulting whisky presents a perfumed, sweet and spicy interpretation of Glenmorangie, offering aromas of rose, carnation, jasmine and lilac, along with myriad spices, such as cumin, saffron, nutmeg, ginger, chilli and anise, as well as sweet oak and chestnut. On the palate, A Tale of Spices presents sizzling notes, including ginger, black pepper, and mustard seed, complemented by a soft sweetness reminiscent of mint toffee and Demerara sugar, as well as sugar-coated almonds.
A sensory delight
“I have always loved the variety of colours and aromas I’ve found in spice markets around the globe,” Lumsden explains. “Each sip of this limited edition is like immersing yourself in the sensory delights of a spice market – with new flavours and aromas at every turn. There are complex, earthy notes of ginger, nutmeg and cumin, with sweet floral hints and sugared almonds floating over the top. A sensory delight for single malt lovers to explore and enjoy.”
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices is presented in a box that showcases a medley of warm, vibrant colours and shapes, reminiscent of the conical spice mounds found in traditional spice markets. The limited edition single malt is bottled at 46% ABV and has an RRP of £76 (US$103). It is now available for purchase on the Glenmorangie website and at the distillery’s visitor centre in Tain, as well as at select retailers worldwide.
This single malt is setting a new precedent for Glenmorangie’s innovative approach to whisky making, and is an invitation to whisky lovers worldwide to explore this latest chapter in Glenmorangie’s story.
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