Dedicated To The Craft: Glenmorangie Unveils Its Rarest Whiskey

Last week saw a dinner celebrating the “Unnecessarily Well Made” whiskey at the Academy Mansion on the Upper East Side, hosted by Head of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill Lumsden.

The commissioned work by Khan, named “Disappearing Casks,” was born from a conversation between Lumsden and the artist. Inspired by the poetry and craft behind the whisky, Khan wanted to make a piece of art that transcended time, because, in the same way, time is such a factor in maturing whiskey. Using various sizes of chalk and taking over 2,500 photographs zoomed in and out at different angles and in different spots, Khan’s work highlights his expertise not only in drawing, but also photography. His work is heavily influenced by Cy Twombly’s chalkboard-like works with overlapping and concentric curves, seen quite literally in “Disappearing Casks.”

The 34-year-old spirit is the longest extra-maturation of any Glenmorangie single malt to date. It was bottled in 2012 following 15 years of extra-maturation in unprecedented casks that contained a legendary French Bordeaux Premier Grand Cru Classé wine. There were only 700 bottles of the successor to Pride 1981 made, making it Glenmorangie’s rarest.