Dr. Bill Lumsden is a Wizard of Wood.* If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching this man taste and talk about whisky, stop reading this immediately and direct yourself HERE, HERE or HERE. Whether you’ve never tasted Glenmorangie before or have a shelf full of various expressions, you can’t help but love how much this man loves Scotch whisky. As Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, Dr. Lumsden is literally responsible for coming up with new flavors. And thanks to his wizarding ways and never-ending quest for distinct casks there are a lot of wonderful single malts from Glenmorangie to choose from.
A little background on the distillery itself: Glenmorangie was founded in 1843 by William Matheson and his wife Anne, and has remained in its original location in Tain in the Scottish Highlands. The distillery has its own water source, the Tarlogie Springs, which has been exposed to layers of sandstone and limestone for prolonged periods of time; this minerally-rich quality differentiates Glenmorangie from its Highland neighbors.
With the tallest copper stills in Scotland, Glenmorangie also has a truly unique element in its distillation process. The distillery notes that the necks of these stills are as tall as a giraffe, which is why Glenmorangie claims the giraffe as its spirit animal. (This fact also explains why various Glenmorangie liquor store displays are decked out in giraffe motifs; although we love the idea of giraffe herds roaming the Highlands...)
But let’s get back to the wood: Dr. Lumsden and his colleagues place incredible emphasis on the casks used in the maturation process - some of which are customized by Dr. Lumsden and his team. Armed with a PhD in Biochemistry and a passion for single malts, Dr. Lumsden continually experiments with these casks at a range of ages. This experimentation includes work with Fino Sherry, Sauternes, Bordeaux red wine, and Côte de Nuits casks.
In exploring the various Glenmorangie expressions, what soon becomes apparent is just how diverse they are in smell, color, and most importantly taste. Thanks to the processes, varied casks, and Lumsden wizardry behind every expression, Glenmorangie is a distillery that can appeal to a wide range of imbibers.
We’re not alone in our enthusiasm for Glenmorangie and the liquid fruits of Dr. Lumsden’s labor. Many of the experts we conferred with recommend a Glenmorangie whisky for those who are new to Scotch, while also noting that some of the most interesting single malts on their bar shelf also come from the distillery.
Stewart Ellis, General Manager of Valkyrie in Tulsa, OK said “I'm a sucker for anything from Glenmorangie and their Signet is one of the most complex and enjoyable whiskies I've had the pleasure of trying.” At the same time, Stewart also notes that “Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or is my go to for introducing people to scotch. The sauternes cask finish on this whisky provides a soft, fruity, semi-herbal and quite complex experience that any palate can appreciate!” His sentiments are echoed by the team at The MacMillan Whisky Room in Fairfax, VA, which also recommends the Nectar D'Or to those new to Scotch for both its smooth finish and reasonable price.
Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager and whisky aficionado at The Highland Stillhouse in Oregon City, OR highlighted that the Glenmorangie Tale of Winter was one of the most interesting single malts currently on his shelf; however, he also likes to recommend the Glenmorangie 10 for someone who wants simple and pleasant.
There are a number of Glenmorangie single malts that are reasonably priced. The Glenmorangie 10 Year (also known as the Original) is the distillery’s flagship single malt. We think the Original is one of the best single malt Scotches that’s readily available for under $50. Similarly priced is the Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask 12 year, which Caden Doyle, the assistant general manager at Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub in Cincinnati, OH, recommends for those who love a sherry cask finish.
No matter your familiarity with single malts, your taste preferences or budget limits, Glenmorangie has undoubtedly developed something that will check the right boxes.
*DISCLAIMER: Dr. Bill Lumsden is not an actual wizard; that title is reserved for folks like Harry Potter and Gandalf.
