Glenmorangie Launches Grand Vintage Malt 1998 Limited-Edition

Glenmorangie adds a new 23-year-old single malt to its portfolio: Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998.

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 includes some of the distellery’s first whisky aged in new charred oak.

Scotland’s beloved Glenmorangie, creators of Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies since 1843, have uncorked their latest offering from its Bond House No.1 vintage series. Known as Grand Vintage Malt 1998, it is a 23-year-old expression.

Rich with vibrant fruits, smooth toffee, and ginger, this whisky’s eloquence is a symbol of elegant, experimental style. Delicate and spicy with a wonderful amber glow, this whisky showcases some of the first Glenmorangie ever aged in new charred oak. Dr. Bill was particularly eager to explore the wonders new charred oak barrels might bring to Glenmorangie’s soft, fruity spirit.

The whisky creator also earmarked a handful of carefully crafted casks, tailormade to enrich the Distillery’s single malt. Besides, Dr Bill Lumsden charred the virgin wood of these bespoke casks for the first time and created a striking style of single malt, intense in colour and spice.

Dr Bill Lumsden, director of whisky creation, said: “In 1998, I had all sorts of ideas for new and delicious whiskies. And one of my first experiments was with new charred oak casks. At the heart of Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 is a parcel of that experimental whisky. Aged in those casks for 23 years, it gives the limited edition a wonderful spicy note and an amber glow. With aromas of apples and plums and tastes of orange chocolate and clove, this whisky brings a new dimension to Glenmorangie’s elegance.”

Dr Bill’s vision was filled with a new-make spirit, dreaming of a spectacular malt. The whiskey’s creator left those experimental new char casks to age in the cool, quiet of an earth-floored warehouse for more than two decades. As Dr. Bill waited, the spirit transformed into a deliciously buttery whisky, surging with vanilla, chocolate laced with orange, ginger and sweet chilli.

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1998

“Drumroll please, for our delicate and spicy Grand Vintage Malt 1998 and its wondrous amber glow. Wrapping aromas of vanilla, toffee and pears around tastes of orange chocolate and ginger, our latest limited edition is simply delicious. Created from some of our very first experiments with new charred oak casks, it brings a new dimension to our whisky’s elegance.” The brand posted on its official Instagram account.

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1998
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998, bottled at 43% ABV, is pricing around $900. Official tasting notes are below.

  • Colour: Rich Amber
  • Aroma: Rich and mellow, with hints of toffee, ripe fruits such as pears, plums and baked apples, and some gentle oak. This is followed by some sweet vanilla, fragrant spearmint and a mellow, warming, waxy note, like fragrant incense. Some water releases Glenmorangie’s classic citrus notes of lemon and mandarin orange along with sweet tobacco, a touch of lavender, and the merest hint of ginger.
  • Taste: A zesty, almost effervescent mouthfeel leads into a burst of vibrant fruitiness, some chocolatey notes, a soft butter candy flavour and a hint of toffee, juicy raisins and figs. Then comes a suggestion of orange-flavoured chocolate, clove, ginger and aniseed.
  • Finish: Gentle and soothing with hints of sugared almonds, leather and dates.