In the 1970s, some of the last malt produced on Glenmorangie’s own distillery floor maltings was distilled in the Scottish Highlands. The liquid was then laid down in casks, beginning a journey that would span five decades, watched over by a single Master Distiller.
When Dr. Bill Lumsden joined LVMH-owned Glenmorangie in 1995, that whisky was already approaching its 20th birthday. Dr. Lumsden, the distillery’s Master Distiller, recognized its potential for a much longer maturation. He identified and set aside a small number of casks, beginning a decades-long observation.
A Decades-Long Watch
The decisive moment came in 1999. Dr. Lumsden brought together the whisky, which had matured mainly in bourbon casks with a smaller portion from sherry casks. He transferred the entire blend into a single old bourbon cask. There it would remain for another 25 years, under his watch, until he decided it had reached its peak.
The result is a liquid with notes of baked orange, raisins, and nutmeg on the nose. The palate delivers caramel, Assam tea, and clove, with a finish of oak tannins that speaks to its five decades of maturation. Only 149 bottles of the Glenmorangie 50 Years Old have been produced.
