Question: What do “Footloose” and Glenmorangie have in common?
The answer: Dr. Bill Lumsden.
“The very first time I tasted an exceptional whisky was at a college party,” Lumsden said. “A song from ‘Footloose’ was playing, and a friend said ‘Bill, have a whisky,’ and he handed me a glass of Glenmorangie 10 Year Old, and it pretty much got me into the whisky category.”
That was in 1984.
Now, Dr. Lumsden is the visionary behind Glenmorangie’s ever-evolving line of luxurious whiskies. We were thrilled to be able to sit down with Dr. Lumsden to learn the latest about his new addition to the Glenmorangie lineup—Spios 2018—as well as get his take on what’s trending in the whisky category.
Tell us about Spios 2018.
Dr. Lumsden: Spios is our ninth annual release into our Private Edition Series, and is the first Glenmorangie to be fully matured in American ex-rye whiskey casks. The spirit is similar to the Original, but it’s got that spicy-rye bite to it. It’s almost like a crunch. There’s a physical sensation there, with lots of mint, toffee, cinnamon and clove. It’s bottled at a slightly higher strength (92 proof) people have loved it so far.
How has consumers’ palates evolved over the years?
First, there is a continuing rise in the understanding of popularity of single-malt scotch. A lot of people now understand that while blending scotch is good and it's consistent, it's not as exciting as single malt. And single malt really is the most aspirational part of the category.
Also, I've seen the incredible resurgence in popularity of other types of whisky, particularly Japanese whisky and American whiskey. I can only genuinely think that's been good for the Scotch whisky industry on so many different levels. I'm delighted to see that because it adds more variety.
What’s the most important aspect to your role as Director of Distillation and Whisky Creation?
Making sure that every bottle of Glenmorangie is good enough in quality to take the brand name. I'm very fanatical about that and I will happily stop the bottling line and cancel production if I don't think a whisky is good enough. To me, it's all about preserving the status and integrity of these wonderful brands.
Any industry trends that have caught your eye?
The growth of cocktail culture. I have always said that if you’re going to make a cocktail, make it out of something you would still actually taste. It’s definitely bringing in some new consumers into the category that otherwise wouldn’t enjoy single-malt scotch.
What does whisky mean to you and your story?
Whisky is my life. It's my passion. I put everything into my life's work. Also, my son's in the whisky industry, and my daughter is in her final year studying brewing and distilling, so it's very much been in the family.
If you could share a whisky with anyone in the world, who would it be?
It would be my dad, who is very ill and his days of going to the bar with me are over. If I could turn back the clock, it would definitely be him.