The exclusive vintages of Glenmorangie's Bond House No. 1 Collection are all shaped by their own unique stories. Each distilled in a single year, they are captured at their peak by Glenmorangie's skillful whisky creators, and shared at their remarkable best. The Collection’s sixth release, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996, is luxurious and creamy. Long aged in a handful of Glenmorangie's first custom-designed casks, this quintessential Glenmorangie honours Glenmorangie's pioneering quest to find the perfect casks for their whisky. On their search for those casks, they journeyed to the northern slopes of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. There, they found slow-growth American white oaks with a particularly porous structure. Inviting greater synergy between wood and spirit, they would magnify Glenmorangie’s creamy character. Aged entirely in first-fill casks, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996 showcases a supreme creaminess from the wood, entwined with a deep concentration of the spirit’s fruity, floral influences. Fresh and perfumed, like a bouquet of roses, carnations and jasmine, with a piquant hint of coriander. Mandarin orange and pear follow on, enhanced by a fruity, candied sweetness. A splash of water reveals more carnations, scents of geraniums and gentle, buttery vanilla. A zesty, citrus mouthfeel brings a surge of oranges and lemons, tempered by ripples of vanilla and fudge. Next, with remarkable finesse for a whisky of such age, come subtle notes of ginger, sweet chilli and oak. The finish is delicate and dancing, with the softness of cake mix, almonds and pear. Marvelously rounded over 23 years, this is their luxurious tribute to the pursuit of perfection.