Experimental single malt’s botanical notes bring the wonder of the forest to life
Lush and deliciously herbaceous, Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is Glenmorangie’s first whisky ever crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. Inspired by the natural, everchanging wonder Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation encounters as he wanders the woods near his home, this experimental limited edition evokes the scents, sounds and sights of the forest itself. Dr Bill Lumsden created its notes of pine, juniper and wood smoke by bringing back an ancient method of kilning barley with botanicals. So delightful are these flavours they have led illustrator Pomme Chan to dream up her own fantastical forest, showcased on the whisky’s pack.
For over 175 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been endlessly imaginative in their quest to create delicious single malts – none more so than Dr Bill, known for his ‘What if...?’ approach to whisky. Some years ago, dreaming of a whisky which captured the wonder of a walk in the forest, Dr Bill recalled how ancient Highland whisky makers dried their barley with all kinds of forest fuel. He began experimenting by kilning his barley with many different botanicals. And he discovered the wondrously different flavours which juniper berries, birch bark and heather flowers could bring, when married with a little peat. In this way, he created a batch of spirit with rare aromas of pine needles and juniper, laced with wisps of smoke. Then he aged it in bourbon casks including many refill casks, chosen to allow the spirit’s flavours to shine.
Pairing up with Glenmorangie to bring the whisky’s flavours to life on its pack, Thai illustrator Pomme Chan walked deep into her favourite forest in northern Thailand and began to draw, taking inspiration from her surroundings and her conversations with Dr Bill about Scotland. Soon she created her own fantastical forest, which inspires the packaging’s design. A feast of sumptuous technicolour, her illustration echoes the flavours and botanicals of the whisky – with blossoming heather, fragrant juniper and oranges and pine cones dancing on the breeze.
Dr Bill said: “Every time I go into the woods where I live, I notice something new, be it the fragrance of last night’s rainfall or the sound of leaves rustling a particular way. I began to imagine how we could bring the forest to life in a whisky, by kilning barley with materials from woodland, the way our ancestors did. After many experiments, we fell in love with the flavours brought by juniper, birch bark and heather, to create a Glenmorangie as lush and leafy as the forest itself. With aromas of pine needles, woodland moss, juniper’s sharpness, and tastes of eucalyptus, mint, bitter orange and distant smoke, A Tale of the Forest is a whisky to surround, delight and surprise you, whether you enjoy it deep in a forest or in cocktails at home.”
Pomme said: “I’m so excited to be collaborating with Glenmorangie for this delicious limited edition. To me, a forest is all about the senses – the fragrance, as well as what you see and hear. Through my illustration, I wanted to convey the mysterious depth of the forest as well as the botanicals and flavours you can find in the whisky: heather, juniper, orange mint... I hope the pack draws people in and invites them to imagine themselves enjoying Glenmorangie A Tale of Forest on a hike or a picnic... in a forest, of course!”
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is available to purchase from 3rd October 2022 (via Selfridges exclusively until 17th October). Visit glenmorangie.com to see Pomme Chan’s artwork and discover a selection of botanical Glenmorangie cocktails created by renowned Swedish forager and mixologist Emil Åreng. Guests can also enjoy A Tale of the Forest at a takeover of the Green Bar at London's Café Royal. A special cocktail menu and venue takeover will be running from the 12th October until the end of December 2022. RRP: £75
Tasting Notes:
Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is bottled at 46% ABV
Colour: Deep amber
Nose: Sweet malt, biscuit, creamy with a distinctively sharp botanical edge, like juniper or coriander. A splash of water releases myriad herbal and perfumed top notes, such as juniper, coriander, damp woodland, pine needles, nettle and mint. There are glacé cherries, with aromas reminiscent of sweet baking chestnuts and gentle wood smoke.
Taste: A zesty, peppery, effervescent mouthfeel leads into an explosion of flavours: peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, pine, wood sap, angelica, bitter orange and a hint of aromatic wood smoke. The taste sensation continues, with a bitter-sweet oak tannin flavour, along with some oily vanilla and hints of aniseed.
Finish: Long and lingering, with tangy citrus notes such as orange and lemon, and oak.
