Glenmorangie - The best selling single malt whisky in Scotland - highland malt - tallest stills in scotland (used gin stills instead of whisky style) - non-chill filtered to not dilute the flavors. - pronounced to rhyme with 'orange-y' with the stress on the second syllable
Food pairings - Wild Game and seafood
William Matheson was granted a license to distill in 1843 and the Glenmorangie Distillery Company was established. Uniquely he buys tall gin stills instead of the traditional onion shaped whisky stills. In the 1880's Glenmorangie began to export whisky overseas - mainly to expatriate scots in the British Empire Colonies, Europe, and the USA. The distillery passed into the hands of three businessmen - Duncan Cameron and Andrew and James Maltland who invest in the distillery. It is then bought by the Edinburgh based company, Macdonald & Muir as part of their plan to maintain supplies for the whisky trade. In the 1960's, Glenmorangie pioneered the use of American oak ex-bourbon barrels for the first time instead of the traditional Spanish oak ex-sherry casks used by the majority of whisky suppliers in Scotland. 1989 - Macdonald & Muir purchase Tarlogle Springs and its surrounding 650 acres to protect the purity of this uniquely mineral-rich water source for Glenmorangie. Glenmorangie leads the way in innovation again when they introduce the Wood finish range in 1996. Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton buys Glenmorangie in 2005.
The Original - 10 yr. - aged 10 years (most whisky's first bottling is at 12 years out of misplaced tradition or 'because everyone else does it then). In Glenmorangie's case the whisky reaches its first unique and exceptional taste profile at 10 years.
Lasanta - the original is placed in Sherry casks for and additional 2 years - A touch more delicate than the Quinta Ruban leading to its popularity with wine drinkers over heavier Bourbon drinkers
Quinta Ruban - The original is placed in Port casks for an additional 2 years - The most popular Glenmorangie expression- very accessible for the beginning scotch drinker, especially those coming over from bourbon
Nectar D'or - The original is placed in Sauterne wine casks for an additional 2 years - it is the only sauterne finished single malt - creates a fresh tasting scotch whose uncharacteristically crisp citrus hints suggest it to be as good a choice in a Texas Summer as a Scottish winter.