The oldest of the three whiskies in Glenmorangie's Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection, this 29-year-old Highland malt spent over 20 years in casks from the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux. No Glenmorangie before it had spent so long in wine wood.
About This Whisky
Distilled in February 1995, the month Dr Bill Lumsden became distillery manager, this whisky was aged in ex-bourbon casks until 2004. It was then refilled into Margaux casks, where it stayed for more than two decades before bottling at 52.5% ABV. It was released in autumn 2024 as part of a limited edition of 600 sets, alongside Corton-Charlemagne and Barbaresco finishes.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Cassis, violet and raspberry, with cedar, cocoa and a hint of eucalyptus.
- Palate: Full and velvety, with blackberry, dark chocolate, baking spice and fine, dry tannin.
- Finish: Long, with cedar box, red fruit and a gently bitter chocolate close.
Serving & Food
Serve at room temperature in a Bordeaux-style tasting glass, and taste it at full strength before deciding on water. Good partners include rack of lamb, a slice of Pont-l'Évêque, or dark chocolate with cherries.
How to Enjoy
Claret drinkers, and Glenmorangie collectors who own the 1987 Margaux and want its modern follow-up.
Product Details
Distillery: Glenmorangie
Expression: Margaux Wine Cask Finish
Series: Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection (2024)
Age: 29 years old
Distilled: February 1995
Cask: Ex-bourbon casks, then Margaux wine casks from 2004
ABV: 52.5% ABV
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Volume: 700mL
Origin: Scotland
About the Distillery
Margaux has a special place in Glenmorangie's story. In 2006 the distillery released a 1987 vintage finished in casks from a leading Margaux château, a small run of around 3,500 bottles that has become a collector's item. It was one of the releases that made the Tain distillery's name for fine-wine finishes.
The lesson from that earlier bottling was that Glenmorangie's light, citrus-and-floral spirit can take red Bordeaux wood well, picking up blackcurrant and cedar without losing its own voice. This 29-year-old pushes the same idea much further in time.