Hollywood legend Harrison Ford has swapped the big screen for the big stills of Glenmorangie as the actor puts his name to a very special, limited edition single malt.
Last year, Ford was enlisted by the Tain-based whisky brand to front their ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland’ ad campaign, with the humorous videos proving to be a social media hit. In the ads Ford donned a kilt to roam the Highlands and charm the warehouse staff at Glenmorangie, enjoying drams and banter along the way.
Now the long-time whisky fan has received a gift us mere mortals can only dream of: a single malt crafted to his own tastes by one of the industry’s leading whisky makers.
Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden spoke on the experience of working with the A-lister: “We knew Harrison was a whisky lover even before he arrived at Glenmorangie – so I was thrilled to make him an honorary member of our Whisky Creation Team as we went about creating his very own whisky! I think we’re both delighted with the result.”
The pair first met while Ford was at the distillery filming ‘Once Upon a Time in Scotland,’ where Lumsden introduced the actor to the various cask types utilised by the distillery. In the months that followed, many samples were sent across the Atlantic which gave Dr Bill insight into Ford’s preferred flavour profile.
The result is the Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition, a whole new single malt release that offers a unique take on Glenmorangie’s signature style.
The spirit - uniquely elegant and smooth, having been distilled in the tallest stills in Scotland - was predominantly matured in bourbon casks for that classic Glenmorangie character. The twist comes from a small parcel of toasted Portuguese red wine casks included in the recipe, adding a tannic tang to the flavour profile.
Ford gave a typically no-frills description of the dram “It’s very nice.”
Dr Bill was a bit more colourful with his description: “You’ll taste all the hallmark Glenmorangie notes of honeysuckle, citrus and buttery softness, countered by a marmalade edge and grippy tannins. This whisky is timeless and endlessly surprising… much like Harrison himself.”
Official tasting notes also speak of perfumed, floral tones on the nose and Seville orange, freshly baked bread, and muscovado sugar on the palate, with leather and a slight menthol note on the finish.
It sounds like a mouthwatering dram. Thankfully, while the whisky was created in honour of Harrison Ford, the general public will get a chance to try it ourselves. The Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition is available now from specialist retailers and the Glenmorangie website, with an RRP of £75.
Speaking on his experience at Glenmorangie, Ford said: “I loved my time at Glenmorangie, and have enormous respect for the team at the Distillery. They are true craftspeople. Collaborating with Dr Bill was a real treat – a chance to get inside the mind of a maker who combines art and science to create incredible single malt Scotch whisky. We tasted many casks together on our search for a Glenmorangie that would speak to my taste.
“Truth be told, I liked a lot of them – but the Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition is everything I want in a whisky. I’m immensely proud of our creation. I hope you enjoy it. I certainly do.”
