Description
Glenmorangie 12y Original
Glenmorangie 12y original Highland single malt Scotch whisky has reimagined Glenmorangie Original to make its smooth, luscious flagship more delicious than ever. The Distillery’s whisky creators are always exploring ways to bring new flavours and possibilities to their single malt.
And in the course of their experiments, they concluded that their signature whisky’s tastes were even more luscious at 12 years old than at 10. To delight whisky lovers old and new, Glenmorangie is sharing The Original 12 Years Old. This silkier, creamier whisky catapults The OriginalAs much-loved notes of orange, honey, vanilla and peach to a new pinnacle of flavour. The reimagined Original has already met with the experts’ approval, winning a prized gold medal at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards 2024. Glenmorangie 12y Original
The new Original has been several years in the making. Ever since Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie (pictured, below), tasted it as one of his first ever Scotch whiskies in the 1980s he has been thinking on “how to improve on perfection”. Along with Gillian Macdonald, Master Blender and Head of Whisky Creation, they embarked on creating numerous options. These were then presented to a senior tasting panel and refined over the last couple of years. The new whisky received a unanimous vote and is now ready to be introduced to the world. It has already won a Gold medal at the World Whisky Awards. Glenmorangie 12y Original
Glenmorangie was founded in 1843 by William Matheson and is in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named Morangie, and became Glenmorangie in 1887. It has an annual production capacity of six million litres. The stills are the tallest in Scotland standing at over five metres (16.5 feet) – the same height as an adult male giraffe. It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production, which comes from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey.
Glenmorangie The Glenmorangie 12y Original Original 12 years old is bottled at 40% ABV. It is available now from www.glenmorangie.com and the distillery visitor centre in Tain, and will be available through specialist whisky retailers and supermarkets in the UK from August. A worldwide release will then follow. The new Original will cost just slightly more than the previous bottling.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is a bright and vibrant gold, and the nose is uplifting, fresh and zesty. Initial aromas of mandarin orange and vanilla fudge are quickly joined by juicy ripe peach, honey and butterscotch sauce. Underneath are hints of green apple and coconut plus evolving spices – think of warm gingerbread, cinnamon and drying oak spice. Glenmorangie 12y Original
On the palate this whisky feels soft, silky and creamy. Notes of vanilla custard and creamed coconut lead the way. Other sweet notes come through and include heather honey, butterscotch and that juicy ripe peach from the nose. A hint of milk chocolate and dried apricot also sit in the background, as does a note of fairground toffee apple. There is a distinct zestiness that grows – think of orange fondant and mandarin, plus a hint of lemon oil later on.
An underlying drying and spicy character slowly builds to add extra depth, complexity and structure to the whisky. There is a lovely warming gingerbread note (similar to that detected on the nose), cinnamon bark and some freshly sawn oak shaving. A pinch of cocoa powder and some white pepper heat round things off nicely.
The finish is of decent length. It begins with the sweet and fruity elements before turning drier and woodier. The creamy mouth texture is superb and seems to elongate the finish and make the whisky grip the taste buds. The oak and warming spices come through well as other notes fade to give a dry, peppery end. It makes you want to take another sip. Glenmorangie 12y Original
What’s The Verdict?
This whisky is a triumph for Glenmorangie. It is not an easy thing to do to reinvent a classic such as The Original, but they have done it skillfully and in a sympathetic way. Some may think Glenmorangie have taken a risk to change such an influential and big-selling whisky. But the whisky is in good hands with the likes of Bill and Gillian behind the reins.
Ultimately, everything is the same as the previous version – casks, strength, packaging etc – apart from two extra years in the ex-bourbon barrels. They have done well to not dramatically increase the price also, literally by a pound or two, and it sits well in line (if not cheaper) with its 12-year-old competitors. Some consumers may not even notice the change but the aroma and flavour profiles are definitely elevated. This is a great reimagining of a classic and we wish it every success.
Trade name
Whisky
Item No.
1677987
Whisky region
Highlands
Country of origin
Great Britain
Alcohol by volume [% AbV]
40.0
Manufacturer information
Glenmorangie Distillery,,IV19 1PZ Tain, Ross-Shire,GB
Warnings
“Excessive drinking is dangerous for health, alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation” “The consumption of alcoholic be verages during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can have serious consequences on the health of the child”