Glenmorangie has always been a distillery that refuses to sit still. For a house built on elegance and precision — those famously tall stills producing one of the lightest, most delicate new-make spirits in Scotland — they have an impressive track record of pushing boundaries with their limited releases. A Tale of The Forest is one of those bottles that catches your eye on the shelf and demands you pay attention. At 46% ABV and without an age statement, this is Glenmorangie leaning into creativity over convention, and I think it works.
This is a Highland single malt that belongs to Glenmorangie's experimental range, where the distillery's team explores unusual cask finishes and flavour profiles that sit outside their core lineup. The forest concept suggests something earthy, botanical, and grounded — a departure from the tropical fruit and floral character that defines much of Glenmorangie's standard output. At £76.50, it sits in that middle ground between an everyday dram and a special occasion bottle, which feels about right for what you're getting: a well-crafted single malt from a respected Highland distillery, presented with genuine ambition.
The NAS designation won't bother anyone who's been paying attention to the Scottish whisky landscape over the past decade. Age statements have their place, but what matters here is whether the liquid in the glass justifies the price and the promise. Glenmorangie's distillation approach — using the tallest stills in Scotland to create a spirit of remarkable lightness — gives their whisky makers an excellent canvas to work with. That inherent refinement in the spirit means experimental finishes and blending choices tend to land well, because the base spirit doesn't fight against whatever direction you take it.
Tasting Notes
I'll be honest — this is a whisky that rewards patience. Given the forest theme and the style Glenmorangie is known for, expect something that balances their signature elegance with deeper, more woodland-influenced notes. At 46% and non-chill filtered, you're getting this at a strength that lets the character come through without needing to add water, though a few drops won't hurt if that's your preference. This is a single malt built around atmosphere and mood as much as pure flavour.
The Verdict
A Tale of The Forest is Glenmorangie doing what they do best: taking their exceptionally clean Highland spirit and steering it somewhere unexpected. It won't replace the Original on your shelf — nor should it — but it earns its place as a genuinely interesting dram from a distillery that understands how to balance creativity with craft. At £76.50, you're paying a premium over the core range, but you're also getting something with real personality. I'd score this a 7.5 out of 10. It's a confident, well-executed release that shows Glenmorangie's experimental side without losing sight of what makes their whisky worth drinking in the first place. If you're a fan of the house style and want to see it taken in a different direction, this is well worth your time.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it ten minutes to open up. The 46% ABV means it doesn't need much coaxing, but if you find it tight on first nosing, a small splash of room-temperature water will help it unfold. This isn't a cocktail whisky — drink it slowly, on its own terms.
