Glenmorangie Original 12 Year Old Single Malt

Glenmorangie has the tallest stills in Scotland, standing as high as an adult giraffe. That height matters: only the lightest, purest vapours make it to the top, and that is the secret behind the delicate, floral house style. The Original is the bottling that defines it, matured in first- and second-fill American white oak ex-bourbon casks for a gentle, honeyed character.

The distillery sits at Tain, on the Dornoch Firth in the northern Highlands, and has been running since 1843. A note on the label here: Glenmorangie's Original is now released as a 10-year-old, so a 12-year designation is unusual. The house style itself is unmistakable whatever the age statement, and it is that gentle, ex-bourbon character described below.

Expect a nose of citrus and orchard fruit, vanilla, honeyed malt and a whisper of peach, with soft spice and a floral lift underneath. The palate is smooth and creamy, vanilla giving way to flowery fruitiness, ripe peach and orange, a little lemon and a rounded sweetness. The finish is clean and mellow, leaving orange and peach behind. It is soft enough to enjoy neat, though a few drops of water open the florals nicely. If you are new to malt, this is one of the friendliest drams there is.

Elegant, easy-going and endlessly approachable, it earns its place as a daily Highland pour.

How to Serve

Neat in a tulip glass to catch the aromatics, with a splash of water if you want more of the floral side. No ice.

Where to Drink It

Artesian at The Langham, for elegant, aromatic drinks. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood, a relaxed spot for a gentle malt. Dukes Bar in St James's, for a quietly civilised measure.

Food Pairings

Lovely with a lemon tart, or some fresh goat's cheese drizzled with honey.