Watches & Whisky: Glenmorangie And The Laurent Ferrier Galet Square

Traditional Scotch: Highland distillery Glenmorangie is well known for its extremely tall copper pot stills and pale scotch. It is also known for its private-edition pour. This is the sixth release from Glenmorangie’s award-winning Private Edition. Tùsail is the product of a carefully-selected parcel of Maris Otter barley, floor-malted by hand using traditional techniques, and non-chill filter. When first learning about what Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden discussed about the Private Edition, it was easy to see the amount of research it took to produce each and every expression from the Glenmorangie range. What was quite interesting to learn was the emphasis put on the barley to create these signature expressions.

On the nose: There is a beautiful waft of oranges, red apples and toffee. This is then followed up by notes of marzipan, Madeira cake, walnuts and the strangest, but complementary hint of Stilton. Some butterscotch notes will start to emerge, followed by hints of zest, vanilla, cinnamon, lavender, fennel seeds and the lightest touch of oak.

On the palate: It is more poached pears than red apples, but those toffee and Stilton notes are still apparent. Those oranges start to come through, along with some peaches and spicy ginger. These notes are followed by almonds and vanilla, along with cinnamon and lemon zest. Quite surprisingly, there is a balanced, mossy-fungal note and a touch of oak.

The finish: Long and peppery with oak, and a lingering fungal note.

The verdict: Glenmorangie tends to be light and floral; however, this Tùsail from the Private Edition is something rather special. A Scotch that has spades of character with some of the most unusual notes, which have been perfectly balanced to give you a dram that will only leave you wanting more. A whisky that, in my opinion, didn’t really require any water, but did slightly unsettle the dram when some was added. If you do need to add any water, then only add a very, very small amount; and if you don’t feel the urge to add any, then allow the scotch to breathe for approximately four to five minutes to open up the nose a bit.

Info: ABV 46 percent in a 70-centiliter bottle.

Traditional Watchmaking: This year, Laurent Ferrier introduced the Galet Square at Baselworld. And, while some thought its appearance was similar to a timepiece from another watch manufacturer, I can assure you, cushion-shaped timepieces have been around for more than a decade, even pre-dating said watch manufacturer. Laurent Ferrier is known for producing truly exquisite timepieces, and has a penchant for traditional watchmaking.

Laurent Ferrier watch designs are just about as pure as it gets: simple elegance that is functional, legible and harmonious. This doesn’t even take into account the movement, the level of detail and the finishing. Laurent Ferrier’s timepieces are distinctive, and employ a pebble-shaped case, which has become one of its standout features. Some would think, to venture toward a square case may dilute the brand’s identity, but it’s quite the opposite, as no detail has been overlooked.

The case of the Galet Square measures 41 millimeters-by-41 millimeters, which may not sound that large, but is intended to assert a bolder presence on the wearer’s wrist than the Galet, of which it was inspired. The Galet Square collection is the first to welcome a timepiece sculpted out of stainless steel. Ordinarily, Laurent Ferrier’s timepieces are made out of more prestigious metals, but as I’ve mentioned in the past, steel can be just as important in the world of Haute Horlogerie.

The sapphire crystal case-back provides a glimpse of this fine workmanship, and reveals an intricately balanced structure stemming from a clever combination of lines and curves, which incorporates, probably, the most beautiful automatic micro-rotor in the business. Alongside the Côtes de Genève motif on the bridges and the circular graining on the mainplate, the wheel spokes are beveled, the screw hands are chamfered and polished, and the interior angles are handcrafted. The Laurent Ferrier brand carries the essence of traditional watchmaking, and these qualities are seen in every timepiece produced.