Glenmorangie Releases 23 Year Old Whisky Influenced By French Red Wine Casks

Glenmorangie recently announced the release of the Grand Vintage Malt 1997. Aged in bourbon casks for almost a decade after distillation in 1997, a parcel of the new single malt whisky was then transferred into a handful of Château Montrose red wine casks, from the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, for an additional 13 aging years to create what was described as “extraordinary berried depths.”

Following on this, the brand noted, it was further influenced with whisky aged in bourbon casks that brought “classic citrus notes,” whisky “long finished in Oloroso sherry casks [that] gave sweet layers and spice” and some “secret casks [that] also played their part.”

“Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 is a dramatically different whisky, vibrant with red berries and tingling spice, melting marzipan and floral notes,” Director of Whisky Creation Dr. Bill Lumsden said in a prepared statement. “Inspired by my dream of a more expressive single malt, it wonderfully embodies Glenmorangie’s kaleidoscopic style.”

Glenmorangie opened its doors in 1843, when farmer William Matheson and his wife Anne founded the distillery. Since then, it has used what’s described as the tallest copper stills in Scotland to create its whiskies, allowing more space for taste and aroma. Stating the giraffe as its spirit animal, the distillery currently has a conservation partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation charity, which aims to secure a future for all wild giraffe populations in Africa.

The Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 is the newest installment in the Bond House No. 1 vintage series, named after the largest of Glenmorangie’s 19th century Bonded Warehouses. For generations, Warehouse No. 1 was home to casks of maturing spirits until in 1990, when it was transformed into a still house. Today, Bonded Warehouse No. 1 is noted as being the heart of the Distillery’s whisky creation.

The 1997 edition follows the most recent award-winning Grand Vintage Malt 1996 , which won Luxury Masters 2020 Gold, SFWSC 2020 Silver, IWSC 2020 Gold, IWC 2020 Single Malt Scotch 19-25 Years Gold and ISC 2020 Gold. The Grand Vintage Malt 1997 will stand as the seventh release in the series.

Retailing at $900, the Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1997 is available starting this month.