This exclusive series celebrates the unique origins of Glenmorangie’s most prestigious parcels of aged whisky, distilled in a single year. Its inaugural expression, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990, tells the extraordinary story of a sublime spirit which emerged, against all odds, from the most challenging harvest in memory.
Created to delight connoisseurs, The Bond House No 1 collection pays homage to its namesake, the largest of Glenmorangie’s traditional warehouses. For generations, Warehouse No 1 housed Glenmorangie’s casks of maturing spirit, as they lay ‘under bond’, before duty was paid, on the banks of the beautiful Dornoch Firth. However in 1990, Warehouse No 1 was transformed into the beating heart of Glenmorangie – an imposing new still house, revered today as the Distillery’s Highland cathedral.
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 marks this year of change, which is remembered by distillers for quite another reason. The previous summer’s crop of barley, such a vital ingredient for Scotch whisky, proved very challenging to process. In fact, conditions were so difficult that only small quantities of new-make spirit were produced – and even then, there were fears for its quality. Against the odds however, Glenmorangie’s spirit proved sublime. Realising its potential, Glenmorangie’s select craftsmen, the Men of Tain, set about nurturing this exquisite spirit with the patience, dedication and artistry for which Glenmorangie is esteemed, as Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s acclaimed Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, explains:
“For a quarter of a century, this spirit was carefully matured in ex-bourbon casks, with a small parcel in ex-sherry casks, until the spirit reached its peak. Then, we carefully married the parcels together to create the floral and fruity character of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1990 –an expression remarkable for its finesse and vibrancy.” He added: “Grand Vintage 1990 is an captivating first release from our Bond House No. 1 collection and a fitting testament to an extraordinary part of Glenmorangie’s history.”
Read more: www.glenmorangie.com
