GLENMORANGIE X AZUMA MAKOTO 23 YEAR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND
Why Buy: For the discerning collector with an insatiable thirst for the singularly transcendent, this prestige 23 Year Old single malt release is an extreme call to action. Inspired by a walk with the renowned botanical sculptor Azuma Makoto, and sourced from Glenmorangie’s iconic stocks, Dr. Bill Lumsden, the brand’s visionary Director of Distilling and Whiskey Creation, has crafted a dram as compulsively drinkable as it is totally sui generis. An audacious and luxurious expression that, like so many other incredible Dr. Bill creations, simply has to be tasted to be believed. But hurry: quantities are severely limited.
The Story: Dr. Bill has built a legendary reputation for his daring, pioneering ethos — with some going so far as to call him the "Willy Wonka of Whisky” for his head-spinningly creative single malts. With a mind in perpetual creative ignition, he has amassed an unrivaled four "Master Distiller of the Year" titles alongside two prestigious "International Spirits Challenge" honors — a testament to his boundary-obliterating talent. Makoto, the avant-garde botanist, has forged an audacious new art form by reimagining the natural world in spellbinding ways — drafting floral installations into cosmic, primordial, and post-human realms. Bouquets submerged beneath the waves, trees and plants launched into the stratospheres — his work ruptures our understanding of what's possible. Kindred free spirits, this unlikely pair conceived their collaboration during a Highland spring stroll, pledging creative union to celebrate "Shinra Bansho” — the Japanese expression of nature's splendor. Makoto channeled their muse into a wildflower opus incorporating global species, inspiring this release's transcendent packaging.
The Bottling: To produce this collab, Dr. Bill hand-selected a 23 Year Old single malt from Glenmorangie's finest stocks, a mature and poised expression possessing almost kaleidoscopic nuances. Taking this rare, distinguished whisky and marrying it with both conventional and maverick cask-finishing techniques, he has conjured a polyphonic, genre-rupturing single malt of penetrating complexity.
Our Tasting Notes: Even by Dr. Bill's lofty standards, this one unveils a staggering level of sophistication from the first whiff — a rhapsody of heady, resinous perfume. But it's on the palate that this release enters the stratosphere. Layer upon layer of flavor unfurls with bravura finesse and maturity — lemon balsam, wildflower-honeyed pastries, cocoa nib and poached pear...genteel oak tones framing a pure, distilled essence. The lingering finish delivers eucalyptus, zest, and nuances of smoke with a poise and transcendent grace.
ABV: 46%
Fun Fact: In his avant-botanical odyssey, Makoto has dispatched floral ambassadors to the strangest frontiers — from scorched desert saltpans to, yes, outer space.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source directly from the estate, so you can be confident that your single malt will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Don't hesitate to secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2024. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
