The makers of Highland single malt Glenmorangie recently shared a nutty and spicy bottling of Scotch whisky inspired by Amontillado, its creator’s favorite style of Sherry.
The new whisky, available exclusively in Australia and the UK, is the fourth release in the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts.
A statement from the whisky maker notes that Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish features notes of cashews, clove and ginger with citrus tones, giving a subtle, complex twist to Glenmorangie’s expected fruitiness.
Led by Director of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie crafts their Scotch in tall stills to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in select casks.
Lumsden said he’s been a long-time fan of Amontillado sherry, with an affinity for its nuttier, spicier style. Years ago, he began to imagine a unique whisky which would blend its casks’ distinctive flavors through the distillery’s gentle, honeyed style.
But since such casks are hard to come by, he explained, opportunities were few and far between.
Eventually, Lumsden sourced a few Amontillado casks, filled them with a mellow whisky that spent eight years in American white oak bourbon barrels, later transferring it into the Amontillado casks.
He left it there to age for another four years, until it achieved the flavors he had first dreamed up. Finished in this way, he said, the whisky has sherried hints of cashews, clove, ginger and dried fruit rounded with Glenmorangie’s classic notes of peaches, orange and lemon balsam.
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“I have always loved the nuttier, spicier tastes of Amontillado … my favorite 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,” Lumsden said.
Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish, which clocks in at 46% ABV, is available now exclusively through The Whisky Club Australia, at the Glenmorangie Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain, and online in the UK at www.glenmorangie.com. It has a suggested retail price of £75.
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