This 27-year-old Highland single malt is the Barbaresco bottle from Glenmorangie's Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection, released in autumn 2024. It spent 18 years of its life in casks that had held red wine from Piedmont, one of the longest finishes the distillery has put its name to.
About This Whisky
Distilled in 1996, this whisky was matured in ex-bourbon casks until 2005 and then transferred into Barbaresco casks from Piedmont, where it stayed for some 18 years. It was bottled at 51.3% ABV. The collection was released as 600 three-bottle sets in a handmade oak marquetry case, and it was the first time Glenmorangie had put out a Barbaresco finish. Whisky Advocate reviewed it very favourably.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Leather, tobacco leaf and cocoa, then plum, blackcurrant, porcini and a cool menthol edge.
- Palate: Firm and savoury, with damson, liquorice, aniseed and cherry, softening into red apple and dark chocolate.
- Finish: Long and drying, with leather, fine Nebbiolo-style tannin and a faint sooty note.
Serving & Food
Give this one space: a large tulip glass at room temperature, poured well ahead of the first sip. Water, added sparingly, takes the edge off the strength. Pair it with truffle risotto, braised beef cheek or aged Parmigiano.
How to Enjoy
Wine lovers who follow Piedmont, and Glenmorangie followers keen to taste one of Dr Lumsden's longest wine finishes.
Product Details
Producer: Glenmorangie
Style: Highland single malt Scotch whisky
Series: Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection (2024)
Age: 27 years old
Distilled: 1996
Cask: Ex-bourbon casks, then Barbaresco wine casks from 2005
ABV: 51.3% ABV
Format: 700mL
About the Distillery
Glenmorangie, on the Dornoch Firth at Tain, released its first cask-finished whisky in 1987 and has built much of its reputation on the practice since. The Quinta Ruban, Lasanta and Nectar d'Or in the core range all come from that thinking, with port, sherry and Sauternes wood layered over the distillery's light, fruity spirit.
Dr Bill Lumsden, who joined as distillery manager in 1995 and went on to lead whisky creation, has pushed the idea furthest. A keen wine collector, he has sourced casks from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany and California over the years. Pursuit of Passion gathers three of his longest-running experiments in one set.