Unveiling a Masterpiece - GLENMORANGIE PRIDE 1981

Pride 1981 is Glenmorangie’s most luxurious expression to date. As a precursor to the Whiskey Live Festival 2011, Glenmorangie is launching the SA unveiling of Pride next Thursday, 1 November at The Library, Cape Grace Hotel.

Its most sublime single malt whisky named after the year of its birth Pride is an extremely rare limited edition, with only 1,000 bottles available. It is presented in a specially commissioned, striking crystal decanter and wooden case conceived to compliment this exceptional whisky.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 has a lingering finish, succulent and sweet with sultanas, toasted almonds and coconut desserts. The influence of the Sauternes casks produce the captivating aroma and the texture of chewy desserts such as apple tart, with sprinklings of Demerara sugar, nutmeg and aniseed. These are underpinned by musky oak tones, reminiscent of antique oak furniture.

A splash of water releases a myriad of exotic fruits and spices – sherbet lemons, melon, kiwi, with background notes of liquorice and roasted chestnut. Glenmorangie Pride 1981 leaves a long, lingering finish, succulent and sweet with sultanas, toasted almonds and the memory of lemon and coconut desserts.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is the culmination of 28 years of passion, patience and artistry. The genesis began in October 1981, when the intent was to create an exquisite vintage 18 Year Old, but the on-going tasting and assessment of the maturing stocks revealed that this whisky was of exceptional quality.

In 1999, Head of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden acquired a limited number of Sauternes Barriques from the vineyard of Chateau d’Yquem - famed for its Premier Cru Supérieur rating, ‘a class above the rest’. Dr. Lumsden comments, "The opportunity to age an 18 Year Old for ten years in Chateau d’Yquem casks was too exciting to pass up."

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 was extra-matured in these Sauternes casks for a further ten years - the longest period any Glenmorangie whisky has ever undergone extra-maturation. “The resulting liquid is a rich, opulent deep gold, one of our most mature to date, is characterised by rich flavours of sumptuous desserts, and undertones of oak tannins, resulting from the extra-maturation process. We are always looking to push boundaries and innovate, and Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is the pinnacle of those efforts.”

Luscious, sensuous, romantic and ingenious, the packaging of Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is as exceptional as its contents, making every element of Glenmorangie’s finest creation a fitting tribute to a vintage year for design and for whisky. The sinuous Baccarat crystal decanter is the work of talented French designer Laurence Brabant.

It is encased in a wooden box conceived by Dutchman Wouter Scheublin, a rising star of technical design. The result is a cylindrical crystal vessel inside an oak box that slides apart when opened. A modern design classic. Due to the limited number of Sauternes casks available, just 1,000 bottles will be available worldwide, from July 1st 2011. Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is bottled at 56.7% ABV and is available at approximately ZAR 30,000.

About Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie malt Scotch whisky is one of the famous in the world. It originates from the far north of Scotland in the Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation.

About The Glenmorangie Company

The company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the company produces two main single malt brands – Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt whisky.