Glenmorangie Bacalta radiates sun-baked sweetness

The gentle warmth of long, balmy days has inspired the latest release of Glenmorangie’s sought-after Private Edition. On an annual basis, this award-winning collection of rare and intriguing single malts invites whisky connoisseurs to explore the Scottish Highland Distillery’s passion for innovation. Eagerly anticipated by aficionados for 2017, comes the eighth release, Glenmorangie Bacalta – the first Glenmorangie finished entirely in sun-baked Malmsey Madeira casks.

Glenmorangie Bacalta (Scots Gaelic for baked) has taken a unique journey through extra-maturation. Bespoke at every turn, its custom-designed Malmsey Madeira finish reveals a complex character which radiates sun-baked sweetness.

The inspiration for this intriguing limited edition first glimmered more than 20 years ago, with the release of Glenmorangie Madeira Finish, the world’s first whisky extra-matured in Madeira casks. Its character delighted whisky aficionados and it is much sought-after still. Glenmorangie yearned to continue its innovation with Madeira casks. But only the very best casks would do – and such things are rarely available…

For Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks, the memory of that expression lingered on. Determined to realise his vision of the perfect Madeira-finished Glenmorangie, he drew on the expertise gained from the Distillery’s years of pioneering work in cask management. First, Dr Bill arranged for bespoke American oak casks to be created and heavily toasted. The casks were then seasoned to his exacting specifications by Malmsey wine-the sweetest and most prized of the Madeira wines – which were baked to maturity within as the casks lay in the heat of Madeira’s sun. Emptied, shipped to Scotland and filled with specially selected spirit-already matured in ex-bourbon barrels-the Malmsey casks lend layers of sun-baked sweetness to Glenmorangie Bacalta.

Dr Bill said: “For years I had longed to create the best Madeira-finished whisky possible. Realizing that ambition took time and dedication, as every step of extra-maturation was tailored exactly to our specifications-rather like haute couture. Connoisseurs will recognize the radiating warmth of our bespoke sun-baked casks in Glenmorangie Bacalta’s aromas of ripe apricots, white chocolate and mineral notes. There are complex tastes of mint toffee, baked fruits, honeycomb, almonds and dates, mingling with marzipan, white pepper and melon – and a rich, syrupy finish. Glenmorangie Bacalta is a burst of sunshine in a glass.”

The Glenmorangie Bacalta Private Edition Eight will be available across all leading hotels, restaurants and retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi

Price: Mumbai INR 14,116, Delhi INR 9,030

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Tasting Notes:

Glenmorangie Bacalta is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.

Colour: Light gold.

Nose: Fragrant, honeyed and sweet. Some ripe apricots, mead-like, and a curious minerally/flinty note, followed by some sweet white chocolate. A little water brings out a classic ‘rancio’/aged Balsamic tone, with a suggestion of baked bread, malty/biscuit notes, meadow flowers and some peach crumble.

Taste: An initial burst of mint toffee, with baked fruits such as caramelised oranges and apricots, lots of honeycomb, almonds and dates, Milk chocolate, marzipan, white pepper and ripe, juicy honeydew melon.

Finish: A rich, syrupy aftertaste, with more caramelised citrus and pears, some creamy fudge, but always an intriguing mentholic/eucalyptus sensation in the background.

The Glenmorangie Private Edition:

Glenmorangie’s Private Edition is an award-winning range which provides an annual opportunity for whisky connoisseurs and aficionados to experience a rare and intriguing single malt. Glenmorangie Bacaltais the eighth release in this range. Previous releases include Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX (IWSC 2010 Gold Medal); Glenmorangie Finealta (IWSC 2012 Gold Medal); Glenmorangie Artein (IWSC 2013 Gold Medal); Glenmorangie Ealanta (IWSC 2013 Gold Medal and World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2014); Glenmorangie Companta (San Francisco Spirit Awards Gold Medal 2014), Glenmorangie Tùsail (San Francisco Spirit Awards Gold Medal 2015), and Glenmorangie Milsean (ISC 2016 Gold Medal).

Extra-maturation:

Glenmorangie has long been renowned for its expertise in cask management. In 1987, the Distillery pioneered a process called extra-maturation, now widely used in the industry.Extra-matured whisky is first matured in ex-bourbon casks, then is transferred into ex-wine casks where it spends additional time gaining further layers of flavour.

In the case of Glenmorangie Bacalta, every step of the extra-maturation was bespoke:

* Casks were created specifically for the extra-maturation. Made from tight-grained, air-seasoned American oak staves, the casks were heavily toasted to ensure the finest flavours would emerge;

* They were filled with specifically sourced Malmsey Madeira on the island and baked by the heat of the sun for two years, to season them to Dr Bill’s exacting specifications;

* The casks were then emptied out, transported to Scotland, and filled with specially selected Glenmorangie whisky, already matured in ex-bourbon barrels, to create Glenmorangie Bacalta

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland for a purer spirit, expertly matured in the finest oak casks for great depth, and perfected by the Men of Tain.The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field, uniting tradition with innovation.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

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