'morangie meets Margaux Edited by Darryl Beeson   Face it. The UK and France have had some friction, not to mention battles,  over the centuries. Fine alcohol can help mend lots of things. Ask Mel  Gibson, AKA Braveheart, AKA Rob Roy. The real Rob Roy garnered, perhaps, the ultimate highlands honor. A cocktail was named after him.   “What better way to recreate the alliance (at least) between the Scots and  the French than with a whisky bursting with flavor and body. The unique  heritage, origin and passion of Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish provides an  interesting twist on the ‘marriage’ of the grape and the grain, and perfectly illustrates the powerful combination of Scottish spirit and French  soul,” says Mark  Izatt, US Senior spokesperson for Glenmorangie at Moet  Hennessy USA. They age this precious Scotch in barrels from Bordeaux's  Chateau Margaux.   Chateau Margaux is one of the five "first growths" of Bordeaux, making that  final cut back in 1855. Years before, Thomas Jefferson visited Chateau  Margaux, ordering wine for the President's house (remember, this was  pre-White House), before he was actually elected president. History eminates  from the refined oak of the barrels from Margaux. The essence of the wine  permiates the pores.   For more than 10 years, Glenmorangie, renowned Scottish malt whiskey  distiller, has been pioneering the use of different types of casks in which  to ‘finish’ the maturation of malt whisky. Their quest is to find the  ultimate aging nuance. Glenmorangie developed Margaux Cask Finish Whisky, a  winner that will sit comfortably alongside their other exceptional malts:  Tain l’Hermitage, Sauternes Wood, Port Wood, Sherry Wood, Burgundy Wood and  Madeira Wood.   Interestingly enough, a bottle Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish will cost  you a wee dram more than the financial sacrifice required to obtain a bottle  of current release Chateau Margaux, the wine. Only 720 bottles of the  Glenmoangie Margaux Cask Finish were produced, priced somewhere between $399  and $499, each hand numbered and signed by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Master  Distiller.   "At the outset, this whisky is intense on the nose, but softens after a  moment with notes of marshmallow, creamy fudge and milk chocolate," explains  the distiller. "Fruit emerges as toffee apples and caramelized oranges. Smells of home baking are discovered  next with a combination of cherry cake and gingerbread and finally notes of  sweet rolling tobacco."   The distiller suggests that the addition of a splash of water, never ice,  brings out sweet fruitiness with tangerines, a tang of sherbet, tropical  pineapples, passion fruit and peaches, pear drops and the sugary sweetness  of crystallized orange segments, among other complexities.   "Zesty orange, apple and ginger wine notes flood through before deeper hints  of spicy black pepper and cinnamon intertwine to give an overall combination  of boldness and subtlety that perfectly captures the spirited essence of  Scotland and the passionate soul of France," boasts Lumsden. "Glenmorangie  Margaux Cask Finish derives its distinctive flavor from both the wine  absorbed in the maturation barracks and the unique characteristics of the  wood itself." This unique ‘marriage’ is of grape and grain.   Sourced from the Tronçais forest in central France, originally planted in the 17th century by Louis XIV, the climate in this region produces trees of smaller diameter  which provides a fine grain and high tannin content. Powerful wood-derived  flavors have been imparted into the floral, fruity complexity of the whisky.   Realize that Margaux Hemmingway was conceived over a bottle of Chateau  Margaux, the wine. Approach this whisky with similar caution.   Glenmorangie Margaux Cask Finish- 46% ALC./VO/. Non-chill filtered. For more information visit www.glenmorangie.com. For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.