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 TM
Morangie meets Margaux
Edited by Darryl Beeson
Face it. The UK and France have had some friction, not to
mention battles, over the centuries. Fine alcohol can help mend lots of things.
Ask Mel Gibson, AKA Braveheart, AKA Rob Roy. The real Rob Roy garnered, perhaps,
the ultimate highlands honor. A cocktail was named after him.
What better way to recreate the alliance (at least) between the Scots and the
French than with a whisky bursting with flavor and body. The unique heritage,
origin and passion of Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish provides an interesting
twist on the marriage of the grape and the grain, and perfectly illustrates
the powerful combination of Scottish spirit and French soul, says Mark Izatt,
US Senior spokesperson for Glenmorangie at Moet Hennessy USA. They age this
precious Scotch in barrels from Bordeaux's Chateau Margaux.
Chateau Margaux is one of the five "first growths" of Bordeaux, making that
final cut back in 1855. Years before, Thomas Jefferson visited Chateau Margaux,
ordering wine for the President's house (remember, this was pre-White House),
before he was actually elected president. History eminates from the refined oak
of the barrels from Margaux. The essence of the wine permiates the pores.
For more than 10 years, Glenmorangie, renowned Scottish malt whiskey distiller,
has been pioneering the use of different types of casks in which to finish the
maturation of malt whisky. Their quest is to find the ultimate aging nuance. Glenmorangie developed Margaux Cask Finish Whisky, a winner that will sit
comfortably alongside their other exceptional malts: Tain l Hermitage, Sauternes
Wood, Port Wood, Sherry Wood, Burgundy Wood and Madeira Wood.
Interestingly enough, a bottle Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish will cost you a
wee dram more than the financial sacrifice required to obtain a bottle of
current release Chateau Margaux, the wine. Only 720 bottles of the Glenmoangie
Margaux Cask Finish were produced, priced somewhere between $399 and $499, each
hand numbered and signed by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Master Distiller.
"At the outset, this whisky is intense on the nose, but softens after a moment
with notes of marshmallow, creamy fudge and milk chocolate," explains the
distiller. "Fruit emerges as toffee apples and caramelized oranges. Smells of
home baking are discovered next with a combination of cherry cake and
gingerbread and finally notes of
sweet rolling tobacco."
The distiller suggests that the addition of a splash of water, never ice, brings
out sweet fruitiness with tangerines, a tang of sherbet, tropical pineapples,
passion fruit and peaches, pear drops and the sugary sweetness of crystallized
orange segments, among other complexities.
"Zesty orange, apple and ginger wine notes flood through before deeper hints of
spicy black pepper and cinnamon intertwine to give an overall combination of
boldness and subtlety that perfectly captures the spirited essence of Scotland
and the passionate soul of France," boasts Lumsden. "Glenmorangie Margaux Cask
Finish derives its distinctive flavor from both the wine absorbed in the
maturation barracks and the unique characteristics of the wood itself." This
unique marriage is of grape and grain.
Sourced from the Tronçais forest in central France, originally planted in the
17th century by Louis XIV, the climate in this region produces trees of smaller
diameter which provides a fine grain and high tannin content. Powerful
wood-derived flavors have been imparted into the floral, fruity complexity of
the whisky.
Realize that Margaux Hemmingway was conceived over a bottle of Chateau Margaux,
the wine. Approach this whisky with similar caution.
Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish- 46% ALC./VO/. Non-chill filtered. For more
information visit
www.glenmorangie.com.
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