The location
The Glenmorangie distillery lies in Royal Burgh Tain in Ross-shire, a historic county in the Scottish Highlands. Highland whiskies are known for their individuality and their originality. The character of different Highland whiskies varies greatly from distillery to distillery. Since the region harbours many traditional distilleries, it’s worth checking some of them out – whether you’re a whisky newbie or an expert.
The name
The name Glenmorangie comes, like many other distillery names in Scotland, from the Gaelic language, although it is unclear what term it is actually derived from. There is “Gleann Mòr na Sìth“, for example, which translates to “valley of silence” while the term “Gleann Mór-innse” can be translated to “valley of the large heaths”.
The history of Glenmorangie
Alcoholic beverages of all kinds have been produced in Tain since the middle ages. The Glenmorangie estate, the “Morangie Farm” had probably been used for the production of alcohol since 1703. Around 1730, a distillery was built on the farm, which sourced its water from the Tarlogie spring. Experienced distiller William Matheson bought the distillery in 1843 and finally transformed it into a plant that would exclusively produce whisky from then on.
It is said that William Matheson was inspired by the tranquil environment. The special location of the distillery was meant to be expressed in its special whisky – a vision that the company is still pursuing.
In 1918, Glenmorangie was acquired by MacDonald & Muir after the war had caused a drop in production. Although the distillery stayed in possession of MacDonald & Muir there were several shutdowns of the distillery between 1920 and 1950, as was the case with many other distilleries during this time. This was the result of Prohibition and other economic crises.
After World War II, the production volume of the company rose quickly, which led to several expansions of the distillery. In 1980, two new stills were added, and in 1990, four additional ones followed.
In 1997, Glenmorangie took over the traditional Islay distillery Ardbeg, which is known for its smoky whiskies and therefore differs greatly from Glenmorangie in its character. The multinational luxury goods brand Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton acquired Glenmorangie in 2004.
How is Glenmorangie whisky produced?
Glenmorangie whisky is produced from locally grown malt and water from the Tarlogie spring. What makes the distillery so special are the tall stills that boast a height of eight metres. This makes them the highest stills in Scotland. The height of the stills significantly affects the taste of the whisky and makes them especially mild and light in their aroma.
Like many other Scottish distilleries, Glenmorangie whiskies are matured in selected oak casks. Besides sherry casks, bourbon casks, port wine casks and Madeira wine casks are used. Both the maturation and the finishing result in the development of special aromas, which give the whiskies a more complex flavour profile.
Some Glenmorangie whiskies are treated with food colouring – however, this does not affect the quality of the whisky negatively.
Glenmorangie at Gustero
At Gustero, we offer you a selection of top Glenmorangie whiskies. Besides classics like the Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years, you will also find special releases like the Glenmorangie Signet Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky in our shop. Many of our Glenmorangie products come in elegant packaging, making them perfect gifts. Browse our selection now and discover the right spirit for you!
