GQ

For almost 180 years, Glenmorangie whisky has been redefining what “smooth” actually means. But now, its flagship single malt Scotch, The Original, just got an upgrade. Under the curious mind of Dr Bill Lumsden, the brand’s long-serving director of distilling whisky creation and whisky stocks, The Original has evolved from ten to 12 years old, making it creamier, richer, and smoother than ever.

Dr Lumsden isn’t your typical scientist-turned-whisky-maker. He’s the guy who asks “what if?” and then builds a whole new flavour universe around it. Whether the inspiration comes from cake, coffee, or the scent of a forest, Dr Lumsden and his team have built Glenmorangie’s reputation on imagination backed by science. For the Glenmorangie Original 12-years-old, he kept the house’s signature citrusy, honeyed sweetness, but dialed everything up with two extra years of slow maturation in bourbon casks. The result: a whisky that’s silkier and rounder, with notes of orange, honey, vanilla, and peach.