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In celebration of the wood which shapes Glenmorangie’s signature single malt, The Original, Glenmorangie has formed a collaboration with bicycle pioneer Renovo, to create the world’s first bicycles made from the whisky’s casks. The limited-edition bicycles ($6,950 each), will be available online starting September 2017 and represent the second partnership in the distillery’s Beyond the Cask series.
Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at
the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, which allow only the lightest vapors to reach the top.It takes a decade of maturation in the finest American oak ex-bourbon casks – only ever used twice – to create the smoother, rounder taste of Glenmorangie Original. The whisky gains wood notes of vanilla, almond, coconut and honey in the first fill-casks, while maturation in the second-fill casks, invites the citrus tones of Glenmorangie’s spirit to shine through.
For the creation of the Glenmorangie Original bicycles, Glenmorangie shipped the cask staves to Renovo’s workshop in Portland, OR, after their work was complete. There, with the precision that echoes Glenmorangie’s dedication to whisky creation, the staves were first kiln dried to ensure their suitability and the charred surfaces were smoothed away, before they were handcrafted into hollow frames – each taking more than 20 hours to create. The frames, which vary in size to accommodate different riders, incorporate the American oak of Glenmorangie’s staves, alongside a small portion of darker sapele wood, which brings a color contrast to the wood of the staves. In the final stages of production, these 18-pound bicycles are given a durable coating, decorated with Glenmorangie’s Signet icon and individually numbered.
“Glenmorangie is renowned for using the finest casks just twice, to create the Original – a whisky that beautifully balances hints of ripening peaches and citrus fruits with creamy, vanilla notes, to delight malt connoisseurs and amateurs alike,” says Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Distilling & Whisky Creation. “This collaboration with Renovo, which conducts a detailed scientific analysis of wood quality as we do at Glenmorangie, brings new life to the casks that inspire our whisky. Each one of these limited-edition bicycles is a fitting celebration of our expertise in wood and shared passion for creativity.”
“We are so excited to be working with Glenmorangie, a distillery with which we feel such affinity,” says Renovo’s founder Ken Wheeler. “Renovo is dedicated to honoring wood in the creation of our bicycles, because of the materials superior engineering properties, ensuring a smoother ride. These beautiful machines, uniquely fashioned from Glenmorangie’s staves, will inspire anyone with a taste for innovation to enjoy fine quality bicycles.”
Glenmorangie’s collaboration with Renovo is the second partnership in the distillery’s Beyond the Cask series, which celebrates the casks in which Glenmorangie Original is matured, by repurposing their staves in innovative ways. In 2016, Glenmorangie created an exquisite limited edition of the world’s first Scotch whisky sunglasses, with renowned British eyewear designer Finlay & Co.
