Aged two years longer than the brand’s beloved 10-Year-Old Original, the new, 12-Year-Old rendition introduces a silkier texture and deeper complexity to the Highland distillery’s signature single malt. It’s a subtle, yet significant change—one that keeps the bright, citrusy freshness of the original, but layers it with the sweetness and warmth, with notes of vanilla. And who doesn’t love a bit of vanilla in everything?
The Flavours
Founded in 1843, Glenmorangie has built its reputation on precision, patience, and creative experimentation. The distillery’s hallmark 10-Year-Old, known simply as ‘The Original’, has since set the tone for its fruity, floral house style. Now, after years of research and cask trials, the creators have discovered that an additional two years of maturation transform the familiar into something more distinct and special, as a form of adding greater joy to the experience of drinking it.
The new Original 12 Years Old carries the same DNA—notes of orange, honey, and peach—but the extra time in oak introduces a certain velvety depth and balance between the flavours. Shared worldwide with delight, amongst whisky lovers both old and new, the single malt’s much-loved notes of orange, honey, vanilla, and peach have simply “turned the volume up,” in the words of Lumsden.
To do this, whiskey is crafted in giraffe-high stills and then aged 12 years in bourbon casks, where it soaks in all the delicious flavours. The result? A whisky made with layers of orange and honey, vanilla and bursts of peach—a smoother single malt that surprises your palate with every sip.
The New Launch
To celebrate the unveiling of ‘The Original 12 Years Old’, Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at The Glenmorangie Company, visited India this October. Reflecting on the new launch, he shared, “In 1984, when I was studying for my PhD in Edinburgh, I tasted single malt Scotch whisky for the very first time. That whisky was Glenmorangie. I’ll never forget that magical sip and how I became beguiled by its complex flavours. Throughout my years at Glenmorangie, I’ve always strived to keep the whisky true to that memory.” And the reimagined version of The Original is just that.
Things to Know
Priced at INR 6,602 in Mumbai and INR 5,190 in Delhi, The Original 12 Years Old is now available across select outlets in India.
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