Extra: Eagle eyed whisk(e)y folk may have noted a slight clash of title with High West Distillery’s version of the same named whisky. Bit of an oops? Maybe, but as the Glenmorangie version is UK only, and the High West version is basically US only, then it’s not really a problem. The Glenmorangie distillery, and its 8 metre high stills were established on the shores of the Fornoch Firth in 1843, and is known for never using casks more than twice (although I’ve never managed to find out if that means twice as whisky casks, which is probable, or twice in totality). Dr Bill Lumsden is the current head of Glenmorangie’s whisky; a biochemist with a PhD in Microbial Physiology and Fementation Science who developed a fascination for all things whisky whilst a student when he first tried the Glenmorangie Ten. It is arguably Dr Lumsden’s scientific approach to both the whisky, and the wood in which it is aged, that has made Glenmorangie the brand that it is today; a leader in wood selection and in finishing whiskies in secondary cask types. Palate: Much the same as the nose, but with some added almonds and citrus peel – and perhaps just a slight touch of cinnamon and vanilla. Info: A combination of whisky matured in Bourbon casks made from American white oak with liquid aged in Oloroso Sherry casks. Released as a wintery special edition exclusively to the UK. A fancy name and a story behind it, where have we seen that before? This Glenmorangie was first released in 2015 and is a mixture of bourbon and oloroso sherry matured whisky. The name refers to the tradition in which the Glenmorangie master distiller would give the sixteen men of Tain a special whisky over the festive season. Now, it’s not a bad one, as far as stories go – Glengoyne are doing something similar with their ongoing Teapot Dram realeases – but let’s see what the whisky is like.

Glenmorangie Midwinter Night’s Dram (43%, OB 2016) Glenmorangie Midwinter Night’s Dram (43%, OB 2016)

Glenmorangie Midwinter Nights Dram has been matured in select Bourbon casks made from American white oak, delivering Glenmorangie’s classic house-style which is smooth and soft with notes of citrus, vanilla and almonds. Glenmorangie Midwinter Nights Dram Tasting Notes :- This is a Rich and Fruity Whisky. See what other drams we have that may take your fancy try our whisky by taste selection.Edinburgh, Fife & East Glasgow & West Highlands & Islands NE, Orkney & Shetland South Scotland Tayside and Central Nose: Light and pleasant, on orange peel, toffee, caramel and cinnamon. You can sense the influence of some sherry casks, but there is youthfulness there too. This discontinued Glenmorangie Midwinter Nights Dram Limited Edition whisky is inspired by the great Scottish winters.

Glenmorangie A Midwinter Night’s Dram A Winter Warmer Glenmorangie A Midwinter Night’s Dram A Winter Warmer

Glenmorangie claims that it is made as it always has been by the ‘16 men of Tain’ but one name more than any other is synonymous with the distillery today: the aforementioned Dr Bill Lumsden. He was the distillery manager from 1995 to 1998, and from then head of distilling and whisky creation for everything in the Glenmorangie Company’s portfolio. Under Dr Lumsden the cask finishes continued such as Sauternes barrel Nectar D'Or, Port cask The Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old and sherry-finished Lasanta 12 Year Old. He’s also been at the forefront of experimentation earlier in the whisky making stage with products like Signet made using chocolate malt, Cadboll made with single estate barley, and A Tale of the Forest which uses barley kilned with botanicals. Comments: A nice ‘smooth’ (for want of a better word) whisky that doesn’t really offer anything over the standard 10 year-old. The nose is very pleasant, but it loses points in both the palate and finish. A bit generic, and the sherry influence isn’t entirely integrated. Aroma: Notes of orange marmalade, toffee, walnuts and mulled wine; tones of wine-soaked fruit, Christmas cake and a distinct whiff of musk or incense. This whisky is inspired by the long held tradition where The Sixteen Men of Tain were treated with a special whisky in the festive season created by the Master Distiller as a thank you for their role in the creation of Glenmorangie. This gift was shared by the Men of Tain with friends and family from St Andrew’s Day to Christmas to Burns Night.Mouthfeel: On the heavier side of mid-weight. Silky smooth, and slightly oily, with not a hint of alcohol Created by the Master Distiller as a thank you for a job exceptionally well done. Celebrating the tradition of The Sixteen Men of Tain who received a special whisky in the festive season. For friends to share through the darker months. The classic Glenmorangie style as epitomised by Glenmorangie 10 majors on fresh fruit like oranges and peaches burnished with sweet American oak. Whisky creator Dr. Bill Lumsden is fond of saying that “that the orangey is morangey in Glenmorangie”, as a way of communicating the core flavour profile and how to pronounce the distillery name. But the ‘80s and ‘90s saw a gradual move away from blends to concentrate on single malts. For many years, the 10 Year Old expression was the only one bottled by the distillery but in 1987 Glenmorangie released a 1963 vintage single malt which was finished in oloroso sherry casks. This was followed in the early ‘90s by a Port cask-finished whisky and then a plethora of other cask finishes like Madeira, sherry and Sauternes. The switch to single malts was completed in 2014 when the Bailie Nicol Jarvie was discontinued.

Glenmorangie Midwinter Nights Dram Single Malt Whisky Glenmorangie Midwinter Nights Dram Single Malt Whisky

Thoughts: Very much a young oak lead dram this, if that’s your thing then you’ll like it, it gives it a sappy, spicy quality. That said, “The Original” 10yo is definitely superior . Finish: A soft, medium strength, creamy finish, with further notes of malt biscuit and plump raisins. A sadly discontinued whisky from Glenmorangie, fans of its 15-year-old single malt will be filled with nostalgia! An interesting find for collectors and tasting clubs alike. Finish: Mid-length, a reasonable amount of heat, with traces of red apples and a touch of marmalade.

It remained under the same ownership for the next 90 years, but Glenmorangie still suffered from the ups and downs that plagued the industry throughout the 20th century. The American market was particularly important for Macdonald & Muir with their Highland Queen blended whisky, named after Mary Queen of Scots. Consequently, Glenmorangie struggled throughout Prohibition, which came into force in 1919, and the distillery closed in 1931, only to reopen in 1936. The predecessor of Glenmorangie's Nectar D'Or, the 1981 Sauternes Wood Finish was aged for 21 years, the last two of which were spent in premier cru Chateau d'Yquem casks. There are just 4,000 individually numbered bottles. This year, Glenmorangie has made this unique whisky available to whisky connoisseurs in the UK to be enjoyed in the Winter season celebrations.

Glenmorangie celebrates winter with limited edition release

A very interesting whisky from Glenmorangie, its first made with barley kilned with botanicals. Inspired by the woodlands near Glenmorangie’s director of whisky creation Dr Bill Lumsden’s home, he decided to make a dram that would evoke the scents, sounds, and sights of the forest.While elegantly balancing an underlying sweetness and a rich, spicy, nutty top-layer. In conclusion it’s a dram to drink by a roaring fire when it’s cold outside. This superb Glenmorangie was created with a marriage of whiskies produced from two unique types of malted barley: a single estate Cadboll variety and malted chocolate barley, which is better known as a basis for craft beers. Winters in Scotland are nothing to laugh at, there’s no doubt about that. One way to navigate the rougher weather months there is with a good bottle of Scotch and a roaring fire, which is precisely what Glenmorangie had in mind with the unveiling recently of its new limited edition A Midwinter Night’s Dram whisky. Bottled at 43%, the Midwinter Night’s Dram was a limited release by Glenmorangie in 2015. It is a no-age statement whisky that was aged in ex-Bourbon casks before being finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry Spanish oak casks. It won gold at the 2016 IWSC awards. Unfortunately for those of us not in the British Isles, A Midwinter Night’s Dram was a UK-only exclusive. Palate: Decent body. Nutty and spicy, but unfortunately a bit of cardboard too. Cinnamon again, cloves, spiced orange liqueur.