Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream 750ML

Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream 750ML is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 46% ABV (92 proof) and finished in specially toasted high-vanillin casks. This limited release marks the first time Glenmorangie used new oak casks toasted specifically to amplify vanilla character, resulting in a whisky that channels the indulgence of an ice cream parlor without a drop of dairy.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46%  |  Origin: Highlands, Scotland  |  NAS (No Age Statement)  |  Distillery: Glenmorangie

Production & Heritage

Glenmorangie Distillery, located in Tain in the Scottish Highlands, is renowned for operating the tallest copper pot stills in Scotland — standing over 5 meters — which produce a notably elegant and fruit-forward new make spirit. For A Tale of Ice Cream, the whisky was initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in new oak casks that had been specially toasted to draw out intensified vanillin compounds from the wood. This finishing technique, a first for the distillery, deliberately pushed the spirit toward dessert-like creaminess and rich toffee sweetness, distinguishing it from the rest of the Glenmorangie range.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A generous wave of Manuka honey and vanilla bean opens the nose, followed by lemon butter candy, caramel, and candied orange peel. Deeper inhalation reveals baking raisin bread, soft ripe peaches, and a gentle thread of baking spice.

Taste: The entry is immediately velvety, coating the palate with creamy peach melba and lemon sorbet before honeycomb and brioche notes emerge at the mid-palate. As it develops, coconut flakes, fudge, and butterscotch build richly, with toffee-apple sauce and toasted almond adding dimension and preventing the sweetness from becoming one-note.

Finish: Long, warm, and genuinely extravagant — lingering vanilla ice cream, sweet oak, and a gentle undercurrent of spice carry the whisky well past the final sip. The texture remains creamy and smooth throughout, fading slowly into clean malt.

How to Drink A Tale of Ice Cream

This whisky is best appreciated neat or with a few drops of water, which opens up additional layers of fruit and vanilla. Served slightly chilled — though not over-iced — it amplifies the ice cream parlor character the distillery intended.

• Whisky Sour: The inherent vanilla-toffee sweetness replaces some of the simple syrup load, creating a richer, more complex sour.
• Penicillin: Its honeyed creaminess pairs naturally with the ginger-honey-lemon framework, adding dessert-like depth.
• Affogato-style serve: Float a measure over a scoop of vanilla gelato for a literal interpretation of the whisky's inspiration — the vanillin cask influence reinforces the pairing beautifully.

Best For

• Gifting a Scotch drinker who gravitates toward sweeter, dessert-forward whiskies
• After-dinner sipping as a standalone dessert course
• Expanding a Glenmorangie collection beyond the core range
• Hosting a themed whisky tasting focused on cask-finishing experiments

Frequently Asked Questions

What does A Tale of Ice Cream taste like? It delivers a rich, dessert-forward profile dominated by vanilla bean, creamy toffee, peach melba, and honeycomb, with coconut flakes and butterscotch adding depth. The overall impression is smooth, velvety, and reminiscent of a premium ice cream sundae translated into whisky form.

How does A Tale of Ice Cream compare to Glenmorangie 10 Year Original? Both share Glenmorangie's signature fruit-forward, elegant Highland character built on ex-bourbon maturation, but A Tale of Ice Cream adds a finishing step in high-vanillin toasted casks that pushes the sweetness, vanilla intensity, and overall richness noticeably further. Reviewers have described it as a step up in complexity from the 10 Year Original, though the two occupy different price tiers.

Is A Tale of Ice Cream good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 46% ABV carries enough weight to deliver bold flavor without excessive heat, and the dessert-like profile is built to be savored slowly on its own. A few drops of water further soften the palate and coax out additional fruit notes.

Where is A Tale of Ice Cream made? It is produced at Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, located in the northern Scottish Highlands along the Dornoch Firth. Glenmorangie has been distilling at this site since 1843 and is known for its exceptionally tall copper pot stills.

What foods pair well with A Tale of Ice Cream? Vanilla crème brûlée mirrors the whisky's dominant vanilla and caramel notes; salted caramel brownies complement the toffee and fudge character; a ripe peach tart echoes the fruit notes on the palate; blue cheese provides a savory counterpoint to all that sweetness; and shortbread cookies offer a buttery, malty match for the brioche and honeycomb flavors.

What sizes does A Tale of Ice Cream come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the primary format available in the U.S. market.

Is A Tale of Ice Cream worth the price? It positions as a premium limited-edition expression above Glenmorangie's core range, and the unique high-vanillin cask finishing — a first for the distillery — adds genuine novelty and collectibility that justify its place in the upper tier of the brand's lineup.

Why A Tale of Ice Cream?

The defining differentiator here is the specially toasted high-vanillin new oak cask finish — a technique Glenmorangie had never employed before this release. That innovation translates directly into the glass as an unusually creamy, dessert-driven Scotch that stands apart from conventional Highland malts. At 46% ABV and non-chill filtered presentation, it retains full texture and flavor integrity. For drinkers who appreciate Glenmorangie's house style but want something more indulgent and experimental, this bottling delivers a singular experience that the core range does not replicate.