Whisky Focus - Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Year Old

Glenmorangie has unveiled Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky, elevating the distillery’s hallmark style to a new level of refinement.

Praised by Harrison Ford – among the first to experience it in Glenmorangie’s witty brand campaign – Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Year Old (Latin for "high") is said to reflect the Highland distillery's pursuit of perfection. Crafted from a blend of whiskies matured in traditional bourbon casks and those finished in Madeira wine casks, this new permanent addition to Glenmorangie's core collection is said to be bursting with sweet, fruity notes and rich butter-candy nuances.

Glenmorangie's whisky makers have always embraced creativity in their mission to produce remarkable single malts. At the forefront of theat today is Director of Whisky Creation and Master Distiller Dr Bill Lumsden, whose trademark question is "What if…?". Since joining Glenmorangie in 1995, Dr Bill has continually pushed his team to enhance their beloved expressions, introducing new flavours and possibilities to single malt – a vision that has helped make Glenmorangie the most awarded Highland single malt in the world. The evolution of The Altus perfectly embodies his dedication and ambition.

Harrison Ford celebrates the heritage and craftsmanship behind The Altus during a preview in Glenmorangie’s light-hearted campaign Once Upon a Time in Scotland. In episode 10, Teamwork, Glenmorangie Senior Tour Guide Emily Ross offers Ford a mystery dram, while Distillery Manager Ed Thom hints only that it is "something very special". Clearly impressed by its flavour, Ford nods to the gathered distillery team and remarks: "You guys do good work." Lifting his glass with respect, he adds: "Here’s to your creation. To the good people of Glenmorang-y. Cheers.” The moment of solemnity is then amusingly interrupted when distillery worker Alan Duff Junior gently corrects him: "It's Glenmorangie."

As Ford observes, The Altus stands as a true reflection of Glenmorangie’s dedication to excellence. Its journey begins with the fruity spirit produced by the distillery’s remarkably tall stills – their height allowing greater space for flavour and aroma to develop. This refined distillate owes its delicacy to careful refinements introduced by Dr Bill shortly after he joined Glenmorangie nearly three decades ago. Inspired by the very flavours that first drew him to the brand, he matures the spirit in select bourbon barrels, the foundation of Glenmorangie’s house style. Among these are the distillery’s prized "designer" casks – handcrafted from specially selected American oak, heavily toasted and lightly charred to Dr Bill’s precise standards, deepening the whisky’s creamy richness.

After decades of patient maturation, the whisky’s hallmark smoothness and fruit character reach an opulent intensity. To heighten its complexity even further, Dr Bill blends it with a touch of Glenmorangie finished in Malmsey Madeira casks – a tribute to the distillery’s groundbreaking Madeira-finished release of 1995, a world-first and enduring collector’s favourite. The result they tell me is a whisky that carries Glenmorangie into new dimensions of decadent sweetness and spice, where aromas of carnation entwine with orange blossom and honey, and flavours of mandarin, apple, pear, and peach meet gooseberry tartness, marzipan, and ripe banana.

Dr Bill said: "The Altus’s 25-year journey is a true celebration of Glenmorangie’s acclaimed house style – presenting it at a new pinnacle of flavour. We were delighted that Harrison Ford became one of the first to taste the whisky in Once Upon A Time in Scotland – and are very glad it met with his approval! Once our delicate spirit has been distilled in our iconic stills, this whisky has absorbed the creamy, fruity influence of our designer bourbon casks over the decades, before being combined with a sprinkling of Madeira-cask-finished Glenmorangie for more depth and fruitiness. The Altus elevates our Distillery’s signature notes of mandarin, peach and pear to new heights, combined with sweet butter-candy tones."

Ed, who has been manager of the Distillery since 2019, pours Ford his first taste of The Altus in the campaign’s Teamwork episode. He said: "We were very excited to share The Altus with Harrison. This whisky is a perfect example of how bringing together the work of our distillers, blenders and warehouse teams can create something truly special. Harrison’s reaction to the whisky in the film is very genuine. After filming stopped, he shared his appreciation and praise for the craftmanship of the team who created it. He was very relaxed during breaks. He even told us a few jokes – which we promised to keep a secret if he didn’t tell anyone about The Altus before it was released!"

Emily Ross, Senior Tour Guide at Glenmorangie Distillery who hands Harrison the dram itself, reflected on her experience during the filming of the campaign: "The whole experience was unreal. I’ve always been a Harrison Ford fan, so I was excited to meet him. He was incredibly down-to-earth, humble, and genuine. It was a day I’ll never forget; a real moment in Glenmorangie’s history."

Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Years Old is bottled at 43% ABV and had a RRP of £550, it joins the Glenmorangie Original 12 Years Old and the Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old to complete the distillery's trio of flagship expressions.

You will find the Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Years Old available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

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