A lighthouse for experimentation in whiskies

Glenmorangie has opened the doors to its ground-breaking innovation distillery – a destination which promises to bring a kaleidoscope of delicious new flavours to whiskies. The name of the distillery is Lighthouse.

Glenmorangie has been pushing single malt boundaries for decades. From pioneering wood finishing to Glenmorangie Signet’s mocha flavours, and the ground-breaking Private Edition series, Director of Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, Dr. Bill Lumsden has been ceaselessly experimental in his quest to dream up delicious whiskies for more people to enjoy.

Lighthouse is an on-site innovation distillery dedicated to a single malt brand and created solely for experimentation. Conceived to bring Dr Bill’s most extraordinary ideas to life, it is a playground where he and his team can let their imaginations run wild.  Like an actual lighthouse, the 20m-high stillhouse can be seen for miles around. Offering unique flexibility with ingredients and processes, it is designed for deliciousness, rather than yield.

One of the key aspects of Lighthouse is the Stillhouse, which is equipped with two of the giraffe-high stills which enable Glenmorangie’s delicate, fruity spirit. But the new stills feature a host of modifications which allow them to alter spirit character by acting as if they were shorter – or even taller.

Brewhouse, which is constructed in the traditional style of the main distillery, is a stone building which offers scope for myriad experiments with barley, water and yeast during mashing and brewing.

The Sensory laboratory is located above the stillhouse, affording coastal views. The laboratory offers Dr Bill’s team the rare chance to study raw spirits and play with their experiments.

To mark the Lighthouse’s  opening, Glenmorangie is releasing a mouth-wateringly soft and fruity whisky, limited to 3,000 bottles. Glenmorangie Lighthouse is created with bourbon and sherry casks, now encased in the Lighthouse’s walls. Aged 12 years and available only at the distillery, its spectrum of flavours is a sign of all the wondrous whiskies yet to come. It is priced at a RRP of £85.