glenmorangie

Holiday Shopping Guide: Ten Great Whiskies To Buy

Filed under: Spirits

There are few things a whiskey connoisseur likes better under the tree than a long, festively wrapped box containing something special.

It has been a good year for new whiskey expressions, so there is no shortage of options. And I would recommend something new to the market to help the receiver usher in a new year.

Sure, you can buy your Glenmorangie or Glenlivet loving gift recipient a bottle of 12-year old. But put a bit more thought into it, and a bit more brass, and you can turn a grin into a broad smile. For holiday gift-giving, I always thing it's better to give someone a limited edition or otherwise special expression of the brand they prefer. The other route to go is to introduce them to something unique in the category that will capture their interest and sense of curiosity.

These days, almost every brand of Scotch, Irish or American whiskey has a "special," whether it's a single-barrel, cask-strength, extra-aged or barrel-finished.

Here are some gift suggestions of new whiskies Luxist has tried this year and reviewed. Most of these will be found at better whiskey shops in major cities, as well as duty-free travel retail, rather than the corner store.

Gallery: Holiday Shopping: Ten Great Whiskies

Tags: Amrut, Ballantines Scotch, Bowmore, Compass Box, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, holiday gift guide, Jim beam, Whiskey gifts, whisky gifts, WhistlePig

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Diageo Eyeing 100% of LVMH Drinks Business?

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Spirits

Diageo may want LVMH drinks.

Bain & Company, a U.S. retail consultant company, published a study recently that claims a surge in luxury sales of apparel, shoes, accessories, leather goods, and perfumes, despite the sluggish economy because, as Claudia D'Arpisio, a company spokesperson said, "The recovery has been faster than expected."

The company expects a 3 to 5 percent increase in luxury goods sales in 2011, and points out that the market for luxury goods is likely strongest with young males in China.

Headed by France's richest man, Bernard Arnault, LVMH deals in all sorts of luxury goods and the company recently took a 14% stake in Hermes. Analysts think that's only the start of a takeover bid.

Gallery: Diageo Eyeing LVMH Drinks Business?

Tags: 10 Cane, Belvedere, captain morgan, cognac, Diageo, Dom Perignon, glenmorangie, hennessey, Hermes, Krug, moet and chandon

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Luxe Goods Giant LVMH Seeing Better Times

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Shopping

LVMH, the world's leading luxury retailer and marketer of such as brands as Dom Perignon and Dior, said its sales so far this year have risen sharply, driven largely by Asia and by demand for champagne.

The strong performance from LVMH, and its top-branded products under the Louis Vuitton name, is in line with other luxury marketers since the beginning of the year, indicating that spending in the luxury sectors has returned in earnest.

LVMH said its sales rose 23.6 percent in the third quarter and were up 19 percent at 14.2 billion euros (19.9 billion dollars) for the nine months to September compared with the same period in 2009.

The Fashion and Leather goods division was the biggest earner, with nine-month sales of 5.46 billion euros up 20 percent, following by Selective Retailing with sales of 3.71 billion euros, up 17 percent.

Wines and Spirits jumped 22 percent to 2.15 billion euros.
LVMH said the "excellent performance" in the nine months confirmed its confidence for full-year 2010.

LVMH counts among its brands, Givenchy and Guerlain perfumes, as well as Moet and Chandon, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Scotch whiskies.

LVMH's shares are up 41% so far this year.

Tags: ardbeg, givenchy, glenmorangie, guerlain, LVMH, moet and chandon

Glenmorangie Opens New Bottling Facility

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

What does it matter where a single malt scotch is bottled? Unless it's being bottled at cask strength, it matters a whole lot. Because a central bottling line removed from the distillery site means that the water being added, in all likelihood, isn't coming from the same source as that which was used in the malt's production. Add a touch of water to your dram, as many connoisseurs do to "open up" the flavor, and suddenly you've got three different types of water in your scotch.

Only a handful of distilleries have their own bottling line, and one of them is Glenmorangie. Now the top-shelf distillery has opened a new bottling facility in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. The new plant replaces the old one at Broxburn, but is located nearby, enabling better access to transportation routes while retaining its proximity to the distillery itself as well as the same skilled workforce.

The move follows the company's headquarter relocation to central Edinburgh, from which the premier drinks concern controls both its namesake distillery as well as that of Ardbeg on the famously peaty island of Islay.

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Tags: ardbeg, bottling, bottling facility, bottling line, bottling plant, edinburgh, glenmorangie, scotch, scotland, single malt, whisky

Glenmorangie's New Finealta To Help Open London's Savoy

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Glenmorangie has launched a new whisky in its Private Edition line: The Glenmorangie Finealta, pronounced "Finalta." The word translates as "elegant" from the Scottish Gaelic. It is a recipe with historic significance as it is a recreation of a Glenmorangie recipe dating back to 1903.

The century-old recipe was uncovered in the distillery's archives. Dr Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation, said: "Glenmorangie decided to recreate this recipe so that we, and whisky connoisseurs, could have a taste of this historic Glenmorangie expression. We followed the recipe meticulously, which included marrying whiskies of different ages and from different cask types. The final result is a whisky of such depth and distinction that we selected it as the second release in Glenmorangie's exclusive Private Edition."

Archives show that this Glenmorangie expression was served in the American Bar of The Savoy, London, during La Belle Époque and at the height of Art Nouveau, the first modern art movement of the 20th century. The packaging design for Glenmorangie Finealta, not surprisingly, is inspired by Art Nouveau, which had a style for incorporating elements from nature such as floral and plant motifs into artwork. And, unusual for Glenmorangie, the taste profile involves a bit of peat.

The release of the whisky coincides nicely with the The Savoy's reopening on October 10, 2010. Bottled at a strength of 46% ABV, and non chill-filtered, Glenmorangie Finealta will be made available to global travel retail from early September, and in fine whisky shops in North America in early 2011. Price $85.00.

Tags: Bill Lumsden, Finealta, Glenmorangie, Savoy Hotel, scotch, scotch whisky, single malt, Single-malt whisky, whiskey, whisky

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Launch Kosher Single-Malts

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The Glenmorangie Co. and parent Moët Hennessy USA have launched Kosher certified versions of its Glenmorangie Original, Glenmorangie Ashtar, and Ardbeg 10-year old Scotch Whisky.

New packaging and promotional materials bearing the "OU" symbol from the Orthowill be distributed nationwide in the U.S. over the next few months.

"At Glenmorangie we take great pride in producing Scotland's favorite single-malt whisky, using the finest Scottish barley and hand selected American white oak casks of only the highest quality. The OU kosher certification will bring our iconic brand to an entirely new consumer base that can now enjoy our products," Brian Cox, Glenmorangie U.S. Brand Director.

The Kosher certification is administered by the Orthodox Union, which said Glenmorangie and Ardbeg are the first major whisky producers to earn the OU's Kosher designation.

The Orthodox Union monitors all aspects of production. It supervises the process by which the whisky is created, examines the raw ingredients used to make Glenmorangie and regularly inspects the distilling and bottling facilities to make sure that its standards are met.

Tags: Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Kosher scotch, kosher whisky, whisky

Big Dollars for Rare Macallan and Glenfiddich Single-Malts

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

A rare single malt has sold at auction for over £12,000, becoming the most expensive bottle of 60-year-old Macallan ever recorded.The whisky was at the center of an international bidding war at the world's largest whisky auctions in Glasgow this week. It was sold for £12,350 to an anonymous collector from New York.

The rare whisky, a bottling of three barrels distilled between 1926 and 1928, was one of more than 700 lots in the McTear's Rare and Collectible whisky sale. Macallan whiskies routinely top the list of most highly prized vintage whiskies. Others that usually draw high prices include Glenfiddich, Bowmore, Springbank, Glenmorangie, Highland Park and Ardbeg. A 73-year old bottle of Glenfiddich, one of the rarest single-malt whiskies in the world, is expected to fetch £20,000 when it is auctioned next month. There were only 61 bottles of this vintage produced. The sale will be held at Bonhams of Edinburgh, Scotland on June 16.

Tags: bonhams, Bowmore, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, macallan scotch, scotch, scotch whisky, single malt, Springbank, whisky

Glenmorangie Signet

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

I've been hearing lots of buzz lately about the Glemorangie Signet, people really want to get their hands on this bottle. The whisky is causing a stir for several reasons, the first that it is not touting the age on the bottle and the second that the whisky uses a chocolate malt mixed in with barley to create the mash. The word being used to describe it is "voluptuous" and both a Businessweek article and Bill Dowd seem to heartily concur while John Hansell of Malt Advocate seems a bit more reserved although he does declare it to be a fun whisky. It has notes of sherry, maple, marmalade, tobacco and yes, chocolate.

The age of whiskies in Signet hasn't been revealed but it's likely a younger concoction and a smart move to make one at a time when Scotland is feeling the pinch of a shortage of older whiskies ready to tap. The Signet is priced like an older whisky, $185 a bottle but so far the tasters seem to think its worth it. It should start showing up in stores this month.

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Tags: glenmorangie, scotland, signet, whisky

Glenmorangie Whisky Truffles

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Glenmorangie whisky have a new treat this Valentine season. The whisky maker has teamed up with Paul A Young Fine Chocolates, to create whisky truffles made from the Trinitario cocoa bean and the Glenmorangie Quarter Century. The truffles are handmade and hand painted with gold and gold leaf. The truffles are meant to be a perfect pairing for the Glenmorangie Quarter Century whisky. A box of eight sells for £40.

Tags: chocolate, glenmorangie, truffles, whisky

Glenmorangie Hamper for Burns Night

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

We don't celebrate Burns night here in the States but January 25, which celebrates poet Robert Burns is a big celebration in Scotland and other places. The traditional Burns celebration supper includes the Scottish delicacy haggis and readings from Burns's work. Along with the store Harvey Nichols, Glenmorangie has created the ultimate 'Glenmorangie Burns Night Hamper' to accompany a Glenmorangie Burns Night Dinner uniquely hosted by 'A Burns Night Specialist.' With the hamper the customer receives a Harvey Nichols 'Chef's Consultation' to help with food and whisky pairing and suggest alternatives to the traditional Burns Night dinner (haggis is definitely not a taste everyone enjoys). On the night, the hamper will be delivered by a Burn's Night host who will host the dinner, creating Glenmorangie cocktails through out the evening. At the end of the dinner the rare Glenmorangie Quarter Century will be served in a Riedel decanter and glasses with Paul Young chocolates that have been especially hand-crafted with platinum gold leaf created to be paired with the whisky.

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Tags: burns night, glenmorangie, harvey nichols, whisky