Glenmorangie Allta Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie Allta is the tenth release in the Private Edition series — 750mL at 51.2% ABV, the first Scotch believed made with a previously unknown wild yeast strain discovered growing on the distillery's own Cadboll barley, non-chill filtered, and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 51.2%
• Size: 750mL
• Age: no age statement (official position)
• Yeast: Saccharomyces diaemath — a wild strain cultivated from Cadboll barley near the distillery; "Allta" is Gaelic for "wild" (pronounced "al-ta")
• Maturation: ex-bourbon barrels, mostly second-fill and refill casks — chosen to let the yeast's fruity character lead
• Origin: Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Highland, Scotland

The Whisky That Grew Out of a Barley Field

Most whisky experiments start in the stillhouse. Allta started in a field: Director of Distilling Dr Bill Lumsden, walking near the distillery, collected Cadboll barley and found a wild yeast growing on it that science had not catalogued before. He cultivated the strain and fermented with it — a deliberate test of how much yeast shapes flavour — then matured the spirit in ex-bourbon barrels, deliberately choosing second-fill and refill casks so exotic wood wouldn't mask what the yeast had done. The result is a Private Edition unlike any before it. Explore the Scotch whisky collection, or everything from Glenmorangie.

Tasting Notes

From Glenmorangie: yeasty biscuit tones with hints of orange blossom, banana and vanilla on the nose. The palate is silky and rounded — cream soda, mandarin, baking spice and soft malt — with a long, balanced finish of gentle clove, sweet citrus and a whisper of wildness.

How to Enjoy

Neat in a tulip glass to catch the biscuity, floral nose, with a drop of water to lift the citrus. This one is a taster's dram — it rewards quiet attention and a side-by-side pour against the standard Glenmorangie 10 to spot what the wild yeast changed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Allta" mean?
Scots Gaelic for "wild" — pronounced "al-ta" — a nod to the wild yeast at the heart of this whisky.

What is special about Glenmorangie Allta?
It is the first whisky believed made with a newly discovered yeast strain (Saccharomyces diaemath), found by Dr Bill Lumsden on Cadboll barley near the distillery, and the tenth release in Glenmorangie's Private Edition series.

What is the ABV of Glenmorangie Allta?
51.2% — bottled non-chill filtered.

How old is Glenmorangie Allta?
It carries no age statement; the official materials give no age. (Press reported roughly eight years in cask, but the brand does not state this.)

A once-in-a-decade yeast experiment, bottled — find Glenmorangie Allta online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.