Whisky Focus - Glenmorangie Pride 1978

Glenmorangie has revealed its rarest whisky creation to date, Glenmorangie Pride 1978, which has enjoyed the longest extra-maturation period of any single malt produced by the distiller in its 171-year history.

Following on from the 2011 Pride 1981 the new 34 year-old addition, unveiled at an exclusive launch at New York’s Academy Mansion, started as a 19 year-old whisky before being extra-matured for 15 years in casks which had previously contained an exquisite French claret wine.

Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation and the only man to have won leading US magazine Whisky Advocate’s "Industry Leader of the Year" Award three times, believes this exceptional Glenmorangie is his greatest whisky creation yet.

Only 700 bottles will be made available worldwide, since only five casks of this rare liquid were laid down – making Pride 1978 extremely rare.

Dr Lumsden said: "The whisky’s birth date, as its name implies, was 1978. This is when the original liquid was distilled for maturation in Glenmorangie’s finest oak casks, transforming the spirit into a vintage 19 year-old. After this, it benefited from a further 15 years of maturation in only five precious casks.

"The resulting whisky is a luxurious burnished copper colour with rich, decadent and delicious scents of chestnut, toffee and cherries. I believe this is my finest expression yet, one that will be savoured by enthusiasts across the globe."

To mark the release of Glenmorangie’s rarest single malt to date, internationally acclaimed artist Idris Khan has created a unique piece of artwork to accompany the whisky, titled ‘Disappearing Casks’.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to work with Glenmorangie. When visiting their distillery in Tain I was immediately mesmerised. The vision of the casks has stayed with me and provided inspiration for my work, ‘Disappearing Casks’. I was born the same year the casks were laid down and it feels very fitting that I am helping to tell the story."

Khan shares Dr Lumsden and the Glenmorangie brand’s pioneering spirit and devotion to craft. Dr Lumsden commented: "The opportunity to work with Idris Khan on Pride 1978 was an exciting one. Like Idris, we are always looking to push boundaries and innovate. Pride 1978 is the pinnacle of those efforts."

The artwork features an artistic impression of the distinctive whisky barrels at Glenmorangie’s distillery in Tain where the maturation of the liquid takes place.

Bottled in 2012, only 700 decanters of Glenmorangie Pride 1978 will be available at a RSP of £3,400 from July 2014 at independent retailers, department stores and online. Each bottle is accompanied by Idris Khan’s signed, limited-edition print.
 

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