|
Glenmorangie's Dr Bill Lumsden gets
creative with the barley to create the
latest limited release from the Highland
distillery, Glenmorangie A Tale of the
Forest.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie's
creative whisky maker, or to give him
his full official title, Director of
Whisky Creation, has been busy once
again and this time up he has got
creative with the malting of the barley
to produce this latest offering,
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest.
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is
Glenmorangie’s first whisky ever crafted
from barley kilned with woodland
botanicals. Inspired by the natural,
everchanging wonder Glenmorangie’s
Director of Whisky Creation encounters
as he wanders the woods near his home,
this experimental limited edition evokes
the scents, sounds and sights of the
forest itself. Dr Bill Lumsden created
its notes of pine, juniper and wood
smoke by bringing back an ancient method
of kilning barley with botanicals. So
delightful are these flavours they have
led illustrator Pomme Chan to dream up
her own fantastical forest, showcased on
the whisky’s pack.
For over 175 years, Glenmorangie’s
whisky creators have been endlessly
imaginative in their quest to create
delicious single malts – none more so
than Dr Bill, known for his ‘What
if...?’ approach to whisky. Some years
ago, dreaming of a whisky which captured
the wonder of a walk in the forest, Dr
Bill recalled how ancient Highland
whisky makers dried their barley with
all kinds of forest fuel. He began
experimenting by kilning his barley with
many different botanicals. And he
discovered the wondrously different
flavours which juniper berries, birch
bark and heather flowers could bring,
when married with a little peat. In this
way, he created a batch of spirit with
rare aromas of pine needles and juniper,
laced with wisps of smoke. Then he aged
it in bourbon casks including many
refill casks, chosen to allow the
spirit’s flavours to shine.
Pairing up with Glenmorangie to bring
the whisky’s flavours to life on its
pack, Thai illustrator Pomme Chan walked
deep into her favourite forest in
northern Thailand and began to draw,
taking inspiration from her surroundings
and her conversations with Dr Bill about
Scotland. Soon she created her own
fantastical forest, which inspires the
packaging’s design. A feast of sumptuous
technicolour, her illustration echoes
the flavours and botanicals of the
whisky – with blossoming heather,
fragrant juniper and oranges and pine
cones dancing on the breeze.
Dr Bill said: "Every time I go into the
woods where I live, I notice something
new, be it the fragrance of last night’s
rainfall or the sound of leaves rustling
a particular way. I began to imagine how
we could bring the forest to life in a
whisky, by kilning barley with materials
from woodland, the way our ancestors
did. After many experiments, we fell in
love with the flavours brought by
juniper, birch bark and heather, to
create a Glenmorangie as lush and leafy
as the forest itself. With aromas of
pine needles, woodland moss, juniper’s
sharpness, and tastes of eucalyptus,
mint, bitter orange and distant smoke, A
Tale of the Forest is a whisky to
surround, delight and surprise you,
whether you enjoy it deep in a forest or
in cocktails at home."
Pomme said: "I’m so excited to be
collaborating with Glenmorangie for this
delicious limited edition. To me, a
forest is all about the senses – the
fragrance, as well as what you see and
hear. Through my illustration, I wanted
to convey the mysterious depth of the
forest as well as the botanicals and
flavours you can find in the whisky:
heather, juniper, orange mint... I hope
the pack draws people in and invites
them to imagine themselves enjoying
Glenmorangie A Tale of Forest on a hike
or a picnic... in a forest, of course!"
I haven't had the chance to taste
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest yet so
I cant comment on its quality, it
certainly sounds interesting and I will
update you when I do have a chance to
taste it. Bottled at 46%, it has a RRP
of £75 and you will soon find it
available from specialist online whisky
shops such
as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop,
Hard To Find Whisky
and
Master of
Malt
|
Bottled at 46% ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Sweet malt, biscuit, creamy with a distinctively
sharp botanical edge, like juniper or
coriander. A splash of water releases
myriad herbal and perfumed top notes,
such as juniper, coriander, damp
woodland, pine needles, nettle and mint.
There are glacé cherries, with aromas
reminiscent of sweet baking chestnuts
and gentle wood smoke.
Taste: A zesty, peppery, effervescent mouthfeel leads into an
explosion of flavours: peppermint,
menthol, eucalyptus, pine, wood sap,
angelica, bitter orange and a hint of
aromatic wood smoke. The taste sensation
continues, with a bitter-sweet oak
tannin flavour, along with some oily
vanilla and hints of aniseed.
Finish:
Long and lingering, with tangy citrus
notes such as orange and lemon, and oak.
|
