Glenmorangie adds Cadboll to travel retail Legends Collection

by Owen Bellwood

Scotch whisky maker Glenmorangie has added a new permanent expression to its travel retail exclusive Legends Collection, called Cadboll.

Glenmorangie Cadboll is the third expression in the travel retail exclusive legends Collection and pays homage to a 16th-century wine cup. The Cadboll Cup was created by Scottish and French craftsmen, and was treasured by the MacLeods of Cadboll, who created the home of Glenmorangie in 1699. The Highland distillery's latest release is finished in barriques which previously held sweet French wines. Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s director of distilling, whisky creation and whisky stocks, set out to create a whisky that would honour the craftsmanship of the Cadboll Cup, while hinting at the sweet wines of the 16th and 17th centuries its casks once held. Lumsden said: "The Cadboll Cup’s secret past is fascinating. Even now, no one knows who crafted the cup – or how its marriage of Highland and continental design came to be. Glenmorangie Cadboll is our sumptuous celebration of its contrasting character." To create Glenmorangie Cadboll, Lumsden selected spirit which had been aged in ex-Bourbon casks and then, in tribute to the Cadboll Cup's French elements, he further matured the spirit in casks which formerly contained sweet French white wines, including those of Muscat and Sémillon grapes. Lumsden said: “The whisky’s aromas of baked bread and toasted brioche remind me of France. It is delightfully smooth and sweet on the palate, with tastes of mint humbugs, milky toffee and a long finish, full of old-fashioned confectionery. I hope the travelling connoisseur will enjoy this sweet tribute to our homeland’s heritage.” Last year, the LVMH-owned single malt distillery re-released its Astar expression, a whisky aged entirely in “designer” Missouri Ozark casks.