The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie have added a new high aged whisky to their core single malt range. The Thirty is now the oldest single malt in the range. It features Glenmorangie’s classic ex-bourbon cask matured spirit but with a small pocket of stock featuring a lengthy 15-year finishing period in ex-red wine barrels sourced from Burgundy, France. The Thirty has been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden MBE, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, and taps into his love for French wine.
Glenmorangie was founded in 1843 by William Matheson and is in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named Morangie, becoming Glenmorangie in 1887. It is large with an annual production capacity of 7.1 million litres. The stills are the tallest in Scotland standing at over five metres (16.5 feet) – the same height as an adult male giraffe. It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production, which comes from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey.
It has taken three decades to nurture this whisky to its full potential – and we select only the casks which can stand the test of time, showcasing a whisky long finished in ex-Burgundy casks, The Thirty balances richer, fruity flavours with hints of our signature, elegant style. This single malt is our celebration of age and imagination, 30 years in the making.
Dr. Bill Lumsden MBE.
Glenmorangie The Thirty is released at 43% ABV and will be a constant product, but created in small batches. It is available now via glenmorangie.com, the distillery visitor centre in Tain and Glenmorangie’s London Heathrow Boutique. Other selected markets will follow later in 2026. Each bottle will cost £740/ €850/ US$990.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is a deep coppery gold and the nose is rich and luxurious, but with a distinct elegant. Aromas of milk chocolate, ripe peach and orange oil lead the way and sit alongside further aromas of cocoa powder, dried apricot, fresh honeycomb and ripe tropical fruit. There is an underlying maltiness plus fainter suggestions of waxy furniture polish, old cigar box and well worn leather.
On the palate this whisky feels velvety and decadent. The luscious and ripe fruits are present in abundance early on, especially the juicy ripe peach and tropical fruit – think of pineapple and papaya especially. Then comes the dried apricot and an interesting note of dried cherry. Or is it chocolate coated cherry, maybe? Honeycomb fresh from the hive and some golden syrup add to the sweet vibe, as does some creamy milk chocolate.
The savoury characteristics then begin to evolve and work in unison superbly. A distinct oakiness adds some grip and drying tannins, as does the underlying malty quality from the nose. The leather and old cigar box are also evident and give depth and complexity. There is more to come – a hint of bitter cocoa powder comes through alongside some warmth in the form of delicate baking spice. Imagine a pinch of powdered ginger and cinnamon here.
The finish is long and highly enjoyable. There is so much going on. The sweet and fruity elements slowly fade and remain luscious until the death. This allows the oak, tannins and delicate spices to shine even more and lead the whisky fully down the savoury path. Bitter orange oil, a hint of clove and dried tobacco leaf also come through delightfully.
What’s The Verdict?
This is an exquisite single malt from Glenmorangie and do not be surprised if this makes our Top 10 Whiskies of the Year, even at this relatively early stage. Classic old Glenmorangie flavours – honey, chocolate, stone fruit and tropicals – have combined superbly with elegant oak and warming spice. The Thirty feels like a real sip and savour experience, and it should do given the price. This is a whisky that shows qualities that only significant ageing over decades can give and we choose our moment wisely to enjoy the remainder of our sample.
