Moscatel-matured whisky created from a one-off cask program
Glenmorangie has released a Moscatel-matured whisky created exclusively for Australia and New Zealand, with no release planned for other markets.
The whisky, Glenmorangie 13 Year Old Moscatel Cask, was produced in partnership with The Whisky Club and will be available only to Club members. As a result, the release will not enter general retail or international distribution.
Moscatel-matured whisky created from a one-off cask program
The Moscatel-matured whisky was created by the Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden. He selected a previously undisclosed parcel of casks that marked the first time Moscatel dessert wine barrels were filled at the distillery.
Distilled in 2009, the casks formed part of a pilot programme designed to evolve the Nectar d’Or recipe. However, the experiment was never intended for public release. After internal assessment, the casks were considered successful and allowed to continue ageing.
Following a seven-year secondary maturation in Moscatel casks, much of the whisky is now approaching 16 years of age. Despite this, the bottle carries a 13-year age statement in line with whisky classification rules.
“What you have here is the original prototype and the original experiment,” said Dr Lumsden.
The casks represent a one-off project and will not be repeated. Therefore, the release carries a confirmed exclusivity guarantee for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Bottling details and flavour profile
The Moscatel-matured whisky has been bottled at 48.2 percent ABV. It is non-chill filtered and contains no added colour. As a result, the whisky retains its natural texture and colour from extended cask ageing.
The single malt displays Glenmorangie’s house style while introducing dessert wine influence from the Moscatel barrels. These characteristics include strawberry creams, chocolate orange, vanilla custard, baked apples, dark spice, and light floral aromatics.
“Instantly there’s a lot of fruit in there, there’s the syrupy sweetness but there’s also a little bit of structure there from the French oak that these barrels are made out of,” said Dr Lumsden.
He also confirmed the finality of the project. “I’m not doing anything like this again because obviously we’re giving this to you with this guarantee of exclusivity,” he said.
Members-only release for Australia and New Zealand
The Whisky Club worked directly with Glenmorangie to deliver the Moscatel-matured whisky as a members-only release. According to the Club, such projects allow distillers to explore rare cask selections and internal experiments.
“It’s an absolute honour to work with Dr Bill and the Glenmorangie team for this release,” said Seamus Carroll, General Manager of The Whisky Club.
“A Whisky Club release gives the world’s best whiskymakers the chance to create something unprecedented. It’s these hidden parcels of casks, personal projects or superlative barrel selections that become Club releases. This is a whisky that will remind long-time whisky drinkers why they fell in love with Glenmorangie and deliver newcomers a truly unrepeatable single malt.”
The whisky will be released as The Whisky Club’s January Whisky of the Month.
Release details
- Product: Glenmorangie 13 Year Old Moscatel Cask
- Style: Moscatel-matured single malt whisky
- Availability: The Whisky Club members only
- Regions: Australia and New Zealand
- Release date: Friday 9 January
- ABV: 48.2 percent
- thewhiskyclub.com.au
