Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996 is a 750mL Highland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) — distilled in 1996, aged a full 23 years, and bottled in 2019 as the sixth release of the Bond House No. 1 Collection. Its entire maturation ran in first-fill, custom-designed American white oak casks, and it was positioned at release as the oldest whisky Glenmorangie had ever aged in those bespoke casks. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL (US bottling)
- Vintage / Age: Distilled 1996, aged 23 years, bottled 2019
- Origin: Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Highland, Scotland
- Casks: First-fill bespoke American white oak from the Ozark Mountains, heavily toasted, lightly charred, bourbon-seasoned
- Series: Bond House No. 1 Collection, sixth release
- Award: Gold, International Spirits Challenge 2020
Twenty-Three Years in Bespoke Oak
The Bond House No. 1 Collection is named for Bonded Warehouse No. 1, the largest of Glenmorangie's 19th-century bonded warehouses — the building that became the still house in 1990 — and it is where the distillery puts its rarest vintage experiments. For the 1996, Dr Bill Lumsden's team laid the spirit down in casks built to their own design: slow-grown American white oak from Missouri's Ozark Mountains, heavily toasted and lightly charred, seasoned with bourbon before filling. Twenty-three years later it became, at release, the oldest whisky the house had ever drawn from that cask type — the same bespoke oak behind Astar and The Original, given more than twice the time. See the rest of the range on the Glenmorangie vendor page and in our whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer's official notes: bright sunburst gold in the glass; a fresh, floral, perfumed nose of roses, carnations and jasmine with a herbal coriander hint, then mandarin orange, pear and candied mixed-fruit sweetness — a little water brings out more carnation and geranium with soft buttery vanilla. The palate is zesty citrus, orange and lemon held in check by soft vanilla and fudge, with gentle ginger and sweet-chilli spice over subtle oak, and a delicate finish of almond, pear and cake-mix softness.
How to Enjoy
Neat, with a few drops of water and time — a 23-year-old vintage malt built on floral delicacy rewards a slow pour over ice's dilution. More vintage and aged malts live in our whisky collection and across our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Glenmorangie Bond House No. 1 Collection?
Glenmorangie's vintage series named for Bonded Warehouse No. 1, its largest 19th-century bonded warehouse. The 1996 is the collection's sixth release — a single-vintage malt aged 23 years and bottled in 2019.
What casks was Grand Vintage Malt 1996 aged in?
Entirely in first-fill, custom-designed American white oak casks made from slow-grown Ozark Mountain oak, heavily toasted, lightly charred and seasoned with bourbon before filling — the bespoke cask type Glenmorangie also uses for Astar and The Original.
Has the 1996 won any awards?
Yes — Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2020, in the Distillers' Single Malts 21 Years & Over category.
A 1996 vintage given 23 years in oak built for one distillery — order Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996 online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.