Glenmorangie brings a deliciously spicy twist to its single-estate whisky
Award-winning Highland Distillery captures the essence of its homeland in field to glass series’ third batch release
Glenmorangie has shared the delectable taste and terroir of its homeland with the latest release in its Cadboll Estate series of single-estate whiskies. Crafted by Glenmorangie from field to glass, this limited-edition series brings the spirit and flavour of the Distillery’s cherished Highland home to whisky lovers around the globe. Aged for 15 years, the third batch of Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate brings a nutty and spicy twist to the series’ award-winning flavour.
Glenmorangie’s Cadboll Estate lies just a short journey from the Distillery on the scenic Easter Ross peninsula, between the Moray Firth and the Dornoch Firth. Few live here - it’s a tranquil, rural place boasting wide-open skies, endless barley fields and beautiful beaches that come alive with the cycles of the seasons. Some years ago, Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, became inspired to share the essence of the whisky’s homeland more widely in a series of single-estate expressions. And so, The Cadboll Estate series was born.
Each release in the series begins in the Distillery’s own barley fields located on the Cadboll Estate, planted and harvested to Dr Bill’s specifications. This Cadboll barley is then mashed and distilled in Glenmorangie’s towering copper stills (as tall as an adult giraffe to allow for a more elegant taste and aroma), to bring forth a uniquely delicious spirit.
Dr Bill imagined how he might bring hints of nuts and spice to that rare spirit’s softness. With these flavours in mind, he selected spirit created from two separate barley harvests and aged it in American oak bourbon casks to enhance those creamy depths. Then, picturing notes of hazelnut, toffee and clove, he finished a small portion in casks which once held Amontillado, his favourite style of sherry. After 15 years, Dr Bill reunited these whiskies in this series’ delicious third batch release; threading hints of toffee and spice around honeysuckle, peaches and cream.
Dr Bill Lumsden said: “Created at Glenmorangie from field to glass, our Cadboll Estate series captures the true essence of our Highland world for whisky lovers to experience, wherever they happen to be. Including a parcel of whisky finished in casks seasoned with Amontillado, my favourite sherry, the third Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate release adds wondrous sherried hints to our barley’s unique flavour. Soft and rich, with notes of deeply sweet spice, toffee, almonds and clove, this whisky celebrates the spirit, flavour and terroir of our homeland in a deliciously different way.”
The new Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate release will be exclusively available in the UK from 27th April via Glenmorangie.com and at the Distillery Visitor Centre for an RRP of £75. It will be available more widely in the UK and in local markets from 4th May onwards.
Tasting Notes
Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate third batch release is chill filtered and bottled at 43% ABV
Colour: Deep ochre.
Aroma: Wonderfully aromatic and fragrant, with touches of honey, hazelnuts, mandarin oranges and soft, sweet toffee. This is then followed by some fragrant, aromatic top notes, like sweet, ripening barley, followed by some baked peaches. A splash of water releases some flinty minerality, along with honeysuckle and jasmine flowers.
Taste: A gently spicy mouthfeel leads into a burst of sweet and spicy flavours – heather honey, gingerbread, hazelnut praline, fudge, toffee and a touch of clove. The Amontillado cask-derived nuttiness is always present, but always gently integrated with other, sweeter flavours.
Finish: The lingering aftertaste has touches of almond marzipan, coconut and finally a suggestion of baking fruit loaves.
RRP: £75
Release date: Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate third batch release will be available from specialist whisky shops from 4th May. It will also be available from the Distillery Visitor Centre and online at Glenmorangie.com from 27thApril.
More information
About Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as an adult giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.
Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s Kind of Delicious and Wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to see themselves in Glenmorangie’s world.
About The Cadboll Estate series
This unique series of field-to-glass whiskies was created to share the spirit and flavour of Glenmorangie’s ruggedly beautiful, yet remote homeland with whisky lovers old and new. It began with the first release of Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate in 2020, a deep and creamy single malt distilled in 2004 and aged in first-fill American white oak bourbon casks. The release was named Best Single Malt 15 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition (IWC) in 2021 and won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), and gold at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) that year. The silky richness of the second batch, distilled in 2005, wonderfully reflected the subtle changes each year brings to the Highlands. It was awarded gold medals at the IWC, SFWSC, ISC and Scottish Whisky Awards. The nutty, spicy and creamy notes of the third batch release are a deliciously sherried take on the series’ style. What is more, Dr Bill is already dreaming up further whiskies for the single-estate series. So whisky fans can look forward to enjoying further delicious tastes of Glenmorangie’s home, even if they are yet to explore the Highlands in person.
About Cadboll barley
Found only in the fields of Glenmorangie’s 440-acre Cadboll Estate, Glenmorangie’s own barley is grown and harvested just as Dr Bill wishes – even down to the barley variety and the fields in which it is planted. When the barley is harvested, he arranges for it to be dried and malted exactly as he chooses, to bring a little extra creaminess to Glenmorangie’s wonderfully delicate spirit. Only enough barley can be harvested from the estate each year for one or two weeks of production at the Distillery. So as you can imagine, Cadboll barley is exceptionally precious.
About Dr Bill Lumsden
Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout his 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the spirit and flavour of Glenmorangie’s homeland (the Cadboll Estate series), the magic of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake), a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a long balmy day in Madeira (Glenmorangie Bacalta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he is a new entry in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.
Provided by Glenmorangie
