Teamwork may indeed make the dream work, but there is one individual in particular whom we must thank for this gorgeous wee drop, and that man is Dr Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation and Master Blender at Glenmorangie. Lumsden wanted to do something with this whisky never done before, while simultaneously honouring the distillery’s roots and heritage. I’d say he certainly managed that.

The Altus, which is their new permanent release, is the third in the distillery’s flagship expressions, alongside Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Year Old and Glenmorangie Original 12 Year Old.

After leaving Glenmorangie’s unique stills, it began its maturation in carefully selected designer American oak bourbon barrels, hand-chosen by Dr Lumsden himself, to his own unique specs. It’s this kind of craftsmanship and attention-to-detail, that has helped Dr Lumsden take Glenmorangie to dizzy new heights over the course of close to three decades.

A portion of the whisky then underwent additional maturation in Malmsey Madeira casks in a nod to the distillery’s past. Way back in 1995, Glenmorangie helped shape the world of whisky when they released the world’s first Madeira cask-finished whisky. The Altus’ journey for the last two and a half decades pays homage to its roots and shows just how special a Madeira-finish can be under the right supervision.

The whisky comes in at a pleasant 43% ABV and has a gorgeous shimmering amber copper hue to it.

On the nose it is surprisingly delicate for a 25-year-old dram. Aromas of fresh rose petals and orange blossom honey are immediately present, though not obvious. There’s a subtle peach and apricot scent to it as well, coupled with sweet vanilla and freshly baked banana bread. A second sniff should reveal additional tinned peaches and carnation milk aromas. Lovely stuff.

On the palate, you can see why Dr Bill chose the casks that he did, particularly the Madeira casks. A first sip should reveal a distinct fruitiness, with apples, pears, banana fritter, and mandarin all coming through. These are harmoniously complimented by flavours of buttery toffee popcorn, Bakewell pudding, and vanilla crème patisserie. There’s also a soft oakiness to it, with a touch of caramel. That’s thanks to those designer American oak bourbon barrels I mentioned earlier.

The finish is long, drawn out, and silky smooth, with a wonderful maple syrup-like mouthfeel to it. You get more of those ripe autumn fruits, honey, marzipan, stewed plums, and sweet Madagascan vanilla. I can see why Harrison Ford was such a fan.

This dram is available now at specialist retailers, Glenmorangie’s online store, and their visitor centre in Tain. As of this writing, a bottle will set you back £520 – £550, and in my humble opinion, is worth every penny. This is a dram made to be enjoyed, and enjoy it you shall.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.