· Glenmorangie launches A Tale of the Forest, its first-ever whisky crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals such as juniper berries, birch bark and heather flowers.
· To bring the whisky’s flavours to life, Glenmorangie has collaborated with Thai illustrator Pomme Chan on the design of the bottle and gift box.
· A limited-edition product, A Tale of the Forest is available to purchase from 22nd September via Selfridges, Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and Clos19, RRP £75.
Deliciously herbaceous, Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest is the brand’s first-ever whisky crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals. The wonderful woods by the whisky creator’s home inspired this experimental limited edition, with the new spirit evoking the scents, sounds and sights of the forest itself.
Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, created the whisky’s notes of pine, juniper and wood smoke by bringing back an ancient method of kilning barley with botanicals. He created a batch of spirits with rare aromas of pine needles and juniper, laced with wisps of smoke. After this, he aged it in bourbon casks including many refill casks, chosen to allow the spirit’s flavours to shine. For over 175 years, Glenmorangie and its whisky creators have been endlessly imaginative in the development of unique, delicious single malts – and A Tale of the Forest is no different.
Dr Bill said: “While walking through the woods, 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.”
Partnering with Glenmorangie to bring the whisky’s flavours to life on the 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 pinecones dancing on the breeze.
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. I hope the design draws people in and invites them to imagine themselves enjoying Glenmorangie’s A Tale of Forest on a hike or a picnic.”
Glenmorangie’s 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.
