Spice Up Your Palate With Glenmorangie's 9th Private Edition

On an annual basis, Glenmorangie invites whiskey aficionados to explore its passion for innovation through the release of their rare, limited-edition single malts. This year, the Glenmorangie Spìos, or Scots Gaelic for ‘spice’, is as its name suggests— uniquely savoury with full-bodied character. The first single malt whiskey to be fully matured in American ex-rye whiskey casks, it perfectly recalls the glittering heyday of American rye whiskey, where its distinctive, spicy style inspired classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan.

Inspired bytrips made to Kentucky distilleries producing rye whiskey during the 1990s, Dr Bill Lumsden was mesmerised by the rare cinnamon and clove notes of this scarce whiskey. He recounts, “I have always loved American rye whiskey’s spicy character, and I believed our Distillery’s smooth house style would perfectly complement the nuances of ex-rye casks.”

To make the Glenmorangie Spìos, Dr Bill sourced the finest first- fill oak casks, handpicked and then shipped across the world to the Glenmorangie Distillery, deep in the Scottish Highlands. Over the years, they begun imparting their intriguing flavours to the pure and smooth spirit, creating fresh aromatic notes with hints of cherry, clove and green grass that burst forth onto the palate as a buttery tone of toffee, cinnamon and sweet vanilla before a lingering finish.

The Glenmorangie Private Edition series constantly explores the boundaries of whiskey flavour through the use of cask finishes, barley varieties and malt roasting levels, among other innovations. Other notable expressions in the range include the highly revered Sonnalta PX – rested in pedro ximinez sherry casks; the Mislean Finished for two-and-a-half years in 154 toasted ex-Portuguese-red-wine barriques; and the lauded Glenmorangie Ealanta rested in virgin American oak. The Spìos is Glenmorangie’s 9th release, and whiskey lovers can anticipate something special for their 10th anniversary next year.