CHIVAS BROTHERS MOVES BIG TIME INTO SINGLE MALT RELEASES

SECRET SPEYSIDE : CHIVAS BROTHERS RELEASES ITS LARGEST EVER SINGLE MALT COLLECTION

The Secret Speyside Collection was launched by Chivas Brothers on 27/06/2019, featuring fifteen rare Single Malts from four highly sought-after distilleries. 

This is its biggest Single Malt collection release till date, with the launch of fifteen aged Single Malt Scotch whiskies from four seldom-seen, yet definitely sought-after Speyside, Scotland distilleries.

The Collection is a meticulously curated selection of 18-30 year old whiskies from four of Speyside’s most elusive distilleries. Each has its own rich and unique history for Single Malt fans to discover: the vanished distillery of Caperdonich, the pioneering Longmorn distillery, the landmark Glen Keith distillery, and the remote Braes of Glenlivet distillery.

The fifteen-bottle collection consists of three rare Single Malts each from Glen Keith, Longmorn and Braes of Glenlivet, along with with three peated and three unpeated expressions from Caperdonich, which distilled its final Single Malt in 2002, before closing its doors and being dismantled in 2011.

The Secret Speyside Collection is the first of its kind from Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers and will offer Single Malt connoisseurs the chance to uncover, sample and collect some of the hidden malts at the heart of the iconic Speyside region that have rarely been made available in the past.

“With centuries of rich whisky heritage, Speyside is the treasure chest of Scotch. In curating the Collection, the Chivas Brothers team have hand-selected its contents to shine a light on some seldom-seen distilleries, their rare malts, and unique histories. This new world-class selection demonstrates the breadth of flavour and character that Speyside distilleries can achieve.” 
Alan Winchester, Production Manager, Pernod Ricard

The Secret Speyside Collection came out in July as a Global Travel Retail exclusive for one year, to later roll out into selected markets globally from summer 2020. Priced between US$100 and US$990 per bottle, all 15 whiskies carry age statements of 18-30 years. All are at 48% ABV, except where cask strength, and Glen Keith which will proffer whiskies at 43% ABV.

The Distilleries of the Secret Speyside Collection

1. Caperdonich – A Vanished Distillery

Once gone, there will never be another. This collection contains the only available Single Malts from this distillery, which was taken down in 2011. The whiskies released from this ‘vanished distillery’ of Speyside offer a rare opportunity to discover and compare peated and unpeated expressions of the same age (21 and 25 YO) from the same distillery.

There will be six whiskies from Caperdonich, half peated and the other half unpeated. The peated selection includes an 18 YO, a 21 YO and a cask strength 25 YO whisky. The unpeated whiskies are a 21 YO, 25 YO and a cask strength 30 YO. The peated 25 YO  and non-peated 30 YO were released in October 2019.

2. Longmorn - The Pioneering Distillery

Blending unique insights in technology and craft, Longmorn was designed by founder John Duff in 1894 to create a whisky of outstanding quality. Duff even built a railway station next to the distillery to facilitate supplies getting to the distillery and speed up the finished product getting into the hands of whisky lovers. One of Scotland’s best kept secrets, Longmorn has long been considered world class by distillers, blenders and connoisseurs, often referred to as ‘every distiller’s favourite apart from their own.’

The three whiskies from Longmorn in this collection are an 18 YO, 23 YO and a cask strength 25 YO, with each bringing a more intense take on its rich flavour profile that is highly regarded by distillers and industry experts worldwide.

3. Glen Keith - The Landmark Distillery

Glen Keith was the first Speyside distillery built in the 20th century. The distillery rose from the ruins of an old mill on the banks of the River Isla, famed for its pure water and leaping wild salmon. This collection marks the first official age-statement release this century from the landmark distillery.

The three whiskies from Glen Keith in this collection are a 21 YO, 25 YO and a 28 YO (all 43% ABV). Each is exceptionally smooth as Glen Keith’s pot stills are taller than most, giving an extra ‘copper kiss’ to the single malt and resulting in a complex, intensely smooth example of the classic Speyside style. 

4. Braes of Glenlivet - The Remote Distillery

This is the first official bottling from one of the highest distilleries in Speyside. In years past, when the snow fell, it settled on the hills of Braes of Glenlivet first. The remote distillery was watched over by a lone keeper at night and was truly at the mercy of the uncompromising Scottish elements.

The three whiskies from Braes of Glenlivet in this collection are a 25 YO, 27 YO  and a cask strength 30 YO. Made using the purest water from the Preenie Well, 2 miles deep in the Braes hills, the resulting whisky is smooth, balanced and intensely flavourful.

The 15 Secret Speyside Collection single malts are as follows:

1.   Caperdonich 18 Year Old Peated: 48% ABV, matured in American oak barrels, RRP US$130

2.   Caperdonich 21 Year Old Peated: 48% ABV, American oak barrels, RRP US$290

3.   Caperdonich 25 Year Old Peated: cask strength/TBC on release, oak hogsheads, RRP US$550

4.   Caperdonich 21 Year Old Unpeated: 48% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels, RRP US$250

5.   Caperdonich 25 Year Old Unpeated: 48% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels, RRP US$480

6.   Caperdonich 30 Year Old Unpeated: cask strength/TBC on release, first-fill American oak barrels, RRP US$990

7.   Longmorn 18 Year Old: 48% ABV, American oak barrels/hogsheads, RRP US$100

8.   Longmorn 23 Year Old: 48% ABV, American oak barrels/hogsheads, RRP US$290

9.   Longmorn 25 Year Old: 52.2% ABV (cask strength), American oak barrels/hogsheads/butts, RRP US$450

10.  Glen Keith 21 Year Old: 43% ABV, ‘specially selected’ oak barrels and   butts, RRP US$180

11.  Glen Keith 25 Year Old: 43% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels, RRP US$380

12.  Glen Keith 28 Year Old: 43% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels, RRP US$500

13.  Braes of Glenlivet 25 Year Old: 48% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels,       RRP US$400

14.  Braes of Glenlivet 27 Year Old: 48% ABV, first-fill American oak barrels,   RRP US$450

15.  Braes of Glenlivet 30 Year Old: 50.3% ABV (cask strength), American oak barrels/hogsheads, RRP US$600