Glenmorangie Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 23 hours ago
Glenmorangie is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, on the Dornoch Firth. It is owned by The Glenmorangie Company, a subsidiary of LVMH, and is known for having the tallest stills in Scotland. The distillery is categorised as a Highland distillery.
In this guide
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Glenmorangie at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | Tain, Highlands |
Region | Highlands, Scotland |
Founded / established | 1843 |
Owner | LVMH / The Glenmorangie Company |
Bottles documented | 5 named expressions in Whisky Clan's bottle database |
Visiting | See visitor information in the original research below. Check official opening and booking details before travelling. |
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Glenmorangie history, people and production
The history of Glenmorangie
According to the Glenmorangie Company, the earliest record of alcohol production at Morangie Farm is dated 1703. A brewery was built on the site in the 1730s and shared the farm's water source. William Matheson, a former distillery manager at Balblair, acquired the farm in 1843 and converted the brewery to a distillery with two second-hand gin stills.
The name is believed to come from Gaelic words read either as "vale of tranquillity" or "vale of big meadows".
The distillery was rebuilt in 1887 under the Glenmorangie Distillery Company and bought in 1918 by its main customer, the Leith firm Macdonald and Muir. The Macdonald family kept control for almost 90 years. Production was effectively mothballed from 1931 to 1936 and again from 1941 to 1944 during the war. It was running at full capacity by 1948.
Growth followed. The number of stills rose from two to four in 1977. In the 1980s the company bought around 600 acres around the Tarlogie Springs to protect its water. Four more stills were added in 1990, two washbacks in 2002 and four new stills in 2009, bringing the total to twelve.
In 2004 the company was sold to LVMH for around 300 million pounds. Wikipedia says Glenmorangie has been the best-selling single malt in Scotland almost continuously since 1983.
The Single Cask also reports a 20 metre experimental distillery called the Lighthouse, opened in 2021 beside the main still house.
Owners over time
1843: William Matheson
1887: Glenmorangie Distillery Company
1918: Macdonald and Muir (the Macdonald family, almost 90 years)
2004: Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), via The Glenmorangie Company
People behind the whisky
William Matheson, the founder
Dr Bill Lumsden, who has been with the company for more than 25 years and oversees whisky production as Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks
The Men of Tain, the distillery team. Wikipedia says it was long 16 men and has grown to 24
How Glenmorangie is made
The Tarlogie Springs sit in the hills above the distillery. Barley is supplied by Highland Grain Ltd, a co-operative of local farmers. The stills are among the tallest in Scotland. Wikipedia lists them at 26 feet 3 inches overall with necks of about 5.1 metres, and the distillery says they produce a very light spirit.
All Glenmorangie is matured in white oak casks made from trees grown in the company's forest in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. The new casks are air-dried for two years, leased to Jack Daniel's and Heaven Hill to age bourbon for four years, and then used by Glenmorangie. The Original range matures in ex-bourbon casks.
Extra Matured bottlings are moved into casks that held other drinks such as wine, port or sherry. Bottling of Glenmorangie and Ardbeg takes place at the company's plant at Alba Campus in Livingston.
Notable releases and awards
Core and Extra Matured range on the official site: The Original 12 Years Old, The Lasanta 12 Years Old, The Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old, The Nectar 16 Years Old, Triple Cask Reserve, Signet Reserve and X by Glenmorangie
Cognac Cask Finish and a Glenmorangie 18 Years Old collaboration with Azuma Makoto also appear on the official site
Wikipedia lists the Private Edition range (2010 to 2019), the Legend Collection, A Tale Of series (Cake 2020, Winter 2021, The Forest 2022, Tokyo 2023) and Barrel Select releases (Malaga 2020, Cognac 2021, Amontillado and Palo Cortado 2023, Calvados 2024)
The Glenmorangie Company was named Distiller of the Year by the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012
Glenmorangie Quarter Century won Best Highland Single Malt at the 2013 World Whisky Awards
Current core range and strengths
Strengths shown on the official Glenmorangie store: The Original 12 Years Old 40%, Triple Cask Reserve 40%, X by Glenmorangie 40%, The Lasanta 12 Years Old 43%, The Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old 46%, The Nectar 16 Years Old 46%, Signet Reserve 46%, Cognac Cask Finish 46%, Glenmorangie 18 Years Old x Azuma Makoto 43%. These were read from the store on 20 October 2026 and can change.
Visiting Glenmorangie
Address: Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, IV19 1PZ
Telephone: 01862 892477 (shop). Email: tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk
The official site has a Visit Us page, which did not load, so tour times and prices are not listed here. The Single Cask says the visitor centre is open year round and sits just off the A9 an hour north of Inverness
2026 whisky awards, releases and international availability
At the 2026 International Whisky Competition, Glenmorangie Signet placed third in no-age-statement single malt (87.47 points), The Original 12 Years Old placed third in the 12-year category, and The Altus 25 Years Old placed second in the 25-year category (90.87 points). Signet and The Altus are distinct premium expressions; their retail availability differs from the core Original 12.
Glenmorangie whisky bottle range and cask comparison
Here are named expressions documented from producer or specialist sources, including the available age and ABV. A missing strength is deliberately left as 'Check bottle' rather than estimated.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Glenmorangie The Original 12 Year Old | 12 years | 40% | Ex-bourbon American white oak maturation |
Glenmorangie The Lasanta 15 Year Old | 15 years | 43% | Sherry-seasoned cask influence |
Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old | 14 years | 46% | Portuguese ruby port pipe finishing |
Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Year Old | 16 years | 46% | Sweet wine cask finishes including Sauternes and Moscatel |
Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve | NAS | 40% | Three selected oak cask types |
Featured bottle: Glenmorangie The Original 12 Year Old
Regular and rare releases are distinguished in the Whisky Bottles database; a historical catalogue listing does not prove current availability.
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Frequently asked questions about Glenmorangie
Who owns Glenmorangie?
The Glenmorangie Company, a subsidiary of LVMH, which bought it in 2004 for around 300 million pounds.
Why are the stills so tall?
They are noted as the tallest in Scotland. The Single Cask says the founder bought second-hand gin stills, which are tall, and every still added since has copied them.
How many stills are there?
Twelve, since 2009.
Where does the water come from?
The Tarlogie Springs, which the company protected by buying around 600 acres in the 1980s.
Is Glenmorangie peated?
The Single Cask gives the malt specification as unpeated, a maximum of 2 ppm.
Sources and photographic credits
Loaded and used: Glenmorangie official site (404 page that still showed the store with strengths, and the shop contact details), The Single Cask Glenmorangie guide, Wikipedia. Attempted and not usable: the official story page (404), the Visit Us page was linked but not opened. LVMH, Moet Hennessy, Whiskypedia, Whisky Advocate, Whiskybase and Whisky Magazine pages for Glenmorangie were not loaded.
Unverified: tour times and prices, current annual capacity (The Single Cask says about 6.5 million litres), the exact still neck height (5.14 metres per The Single Cask against about 5.1 metres per Wikipedia), and the first spirit date of 1849. Tasting notes are deliberately not included.
Cover image: Wikimedia Commons.
Featured photograph: original credited image from the Whisky Clan distillery media library. If you own this image and would like the attribution updated, please contact Whisky Clan.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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