The shared savoir-faire of Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky and Parfums Givenchy are celebrated in a series of retail experiences in Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport.

These sleek spaces promise to immerse contemporary gentlemen in each brand’s craft and rich heritage. Travellers can enjoy Glenmorangie Signet’s unparalleled mocha tastes and explore the new eau de parfum Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée, a fragrance inspired by the world of whisky.

Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have used endless imagination to dream up delicious whiskies for more than 175 years. Led by award-winning Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, they craft their delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in the world’s finest casks. Dr Bill is renowned for his ‘What if…?’ approach to whisky. Imagining how he might bring to life the aromas of a cup of coffee in a whisky years ago, he created Glenmorangie Signet, the first whisky ever crafted with “chocolate” malted barley. With its melting chocolate notes and tiramisu tones, it is his proudest creation.

For a special collaboration, Dr Bill spent time with Gentleman master perfumers, Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp, discussing their respective crafts and ways of creating. The three found they were kindred spirits, driven by a common sense of excellence, a mastery of sensorial artistry and a shared search for the perfect essence. From this unique encounter, the woody and floral fragrance Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée was born. Dedicated to contemporary gentlemen, the striking duality between whisky absolute and iris captivates. The evocation of woody, ambery, textured notes echoes the olfactory notes of casks where exceptional whiskies are aged.

The retail experiences, opening for a limited time from 2nd May 2022, in six locations across Terminals 1 and 3, showcase the wonder of both LVMH Maisons. Travellers can discover the espresso hints of the chocolate malted barley from which Glenmorangie Signet is made, get hands on with the casks in which it is aged and enjoy the whisky itself. Meanwhile, they can explore Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée and other fragrances in the Gentleman Givenchy range.

Dr Bill said: “There are many parallels between perfume and single malt whisky. So much so, that when I’m describing my whisky, I keep the philosophy of perfume in mind, as I explore the different layers of aroma and flavour. Filled with spiralling notes of chocolate, coffee and sizzling spice, Glenmorangie Signet is one of my proudest creations. And since Gentleman Givenchy was one of the very first fragrances I ever wore, it has been a particular honour to share my whisky universe with Natalie and Olivier as they created their Réserve Privée. I hope travellers who visit our shared retail experiences at Dubai Duty Free will enjoy exploring the best of both our worlds.”

Nathalie said: “It was a great pleasure to mix our savoir-faire with that of Dr Bill and to share the heritage of our two crafts through this collaboration for Gentleman Givenchy Réserve Privée. In this perfume we tried to capture the fresh top note you have in the whisky with this zesty freshness, as well as the woody notes that come from the casks in which single malt is aged. As perfumers we try to do exactly the same as whisky creators. We share our love for fine raw materials, as well as patience and passion, as we seek the perfect quality for the effect we want to create.”

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Dubai Duty Free said, “We are thrilled to mark this special collaboration from two LVMH houses, Glenmorangie and Givenchy, through a series of retail experiences in Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport. It is an honour to be chosen as the only retail operation to celebrate this historic event which is a first in travel retail and we are confident that the activation will tempt our customers and bring added value to the category.”