Flavour and smell are two of the most evocative and nostalgic senses, which take us back to treasured memories. For many people the flavour and smell of cake is particularly reminiscent of special occasions, being treated and spending time in the kitchen with favourite relatives.

That’s what Glenmorangie director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, was thinking about when he imagined a single malt inspired by the delight and wonder of cake. He experimented with ageing whisky in Tokaji dessert wine casks, adding the subtle and layered flavours of honey and fruit to Glenmorangie single malt. The result is Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, a delicious and exciting new expression with notes of honey, white chocolate and fruit that naturally pairs particularly well with cake.

To mark the release of the whisky, Glenmorangie are collaborating with the master of all things cake and pastry: Dominique Ansel. The creator of the Cronut is known for his original and innovative approach to being a pastry chef and he brought this imagination and whimsy to his project with Glenmorangie. Ansel has created a pineapple boat cake, which pairs beautifully with the pineapple old fashioned cocktail created by mixologist Jeremy LaBlanche from Glenmorangie A Tale Of Cake. And Ansel and LaBlanche have created three more Caketails pairing sweet treats with Glenmorangie’s The Original, The Lasanta and The Quinta Ruban expressions. They have also imagined easy-to-make versions of the Caketails for people at home, which they will demonstrate on Glenmorangie’s social channels.

Dr Bill Lumsden said: “Like so many of us, some of my favourite memories come from cake, whether it be helping my granny in her kitchen, or the pineapple birthday cake my daughter surprised me with one year. By finishing whisky in Tokaji wine casks, I’ve captured the joy of those indulgent cake moments in Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake. The liquid is a rich copper, but the taste is pure technicolour, luscious, sweet and complex with multi-layered bursts of honey, white chocolate and fruits with a hint of mint. As you might expect, it tastes incredible when enjoyed with actual cake, so it’s fantastic to see Dominique bring it to life in his CakeTails.”

Dominique Ansel says: “When I first tried Glenmorangie, it opened my senses to this amazing world of colour, texture, taste, and aroma  ̶  it’s a new adventure each time. I never guessed I could enjoy whisky this much, but there is a friendliness to the way Glenmorangie tastes. Baking and whisky making are different worlds, but they have a lot in common. If you stir Dr Bill’s passion for single malt with my love for cake, you get the best of both our worlds!”

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake is £75 and is available from 22 September – 18 October exclusively at Selfridges. Visit Glenmorangie on Instagram to see Dominique Ansel’s creations come to life.