A SKIM THROUGH SOME GLENFIDDICH EXPRESSIONS

 NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS FROM GLENFIDDICH

GLENFIDDICH MALT MASTER’S EDITION 43% ABV

SPICY, HINT OF TOASTED ALMOND AND FRUIT CAKE

Exceptional skill, decades of dedication and an inventive mind make a brilliant Malt Master. Earth and soaked wood aromas blend with deep vanilla. Flavours are sharp with spice and round with plum. A hint of toasted almonds gives way to a silky smooth finish.

A complete original from their Malt Master, this unique bottling is offered in homage to Glenfiddich’s 125th anniversary. 

Colour: Deep ruby red.

Nose: Clear components of pear and crisp apple. Cider. Slightly winey, with red grape skins and a mild sour note. Golden raisins and vanilla. Damp earth and whisky-soaked wood intertwine with deep vanilla and smoky embers.

Palate: Rich with complex flavours layered by double-maturation. Sherbet and zinginess slowly turn to spice. Tempting plum and cherry follow, with hints of toasted almonds and fruit cake. Nice caramel apple notes. Round and sweet. Medium-bodied. Granola and golden raisins.

Finish: Silky and smooth. Sticky toffee pudding. Malty and mildly oaky on the tail end, not overly bitter. Walnut on the fade-out. 

With Water: Opens up some banana notes, and various florals – honeysuckle? Palate is washed out and bland. I don’t suggest water with this.

Overall: Very nice. The nose is a surprise, with mouth-watering fruit notes that stand out clearly. It gets somewhat too sweet in the finish, where the subtle notes are washed away by the sticky caramelised sugar. Delicate and accomplished, even if a tad expensive.

Their first double-matured expression. Glenfiddich’s sixth Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, has created their first double-matured expression. After many years ageing in oak casks, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master’s Edition spends its final years in sherry casks. This layers an unmatched depth of aroma and flavour in each one of their individually crafted batches.

Caramelised Casks: The sweet Spanish sherry butts we use to mature our whiskies are toasted to caramelise their wood sugars. Deepening the fruit and softening the sweetness of the maturing whisky inside.

Gentle Flavouring: The sherry butts used each hold 110 gallons and are the largest of all casks used in maturing single malt Scotch whisky. Their large size and volume means the whisky inside matures more slowly and gently picks up their aromas and flavours.

This is a “double wood”, aged for the majority of its life in ex-bourbon, and then given a secondary maturation (not just a finish) in sherry casks. According to the press release, this is the first Glenfiddich malt to be transferred entirely from bourbon barrels to a prolonged maturation in sherry barrels, as opposed to the 18-year, for example, where barrels of each type are blended together in large batches to get the target flavour profile. This seems rather specious for an $80 price tag, although it could be argued that the barrels selected for this malt are of higher quality and thus more valuable than the “run of the mill” barrels that get dumped into the mass-market varieties. That’s a consideration that can’t be quantified – we will have to take Glenfiddich’s word that this whisky is worth $80. 

GLENFIDDICH DISTILLERY EDITION 15 YO 51% ABV TRAVEL RETAIL 1.0L

CREAMY, FLORAL, SPICY BLACK PEPPER, LUSCIOUS GENTLE FRUIT FLAVOURS

Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky has revealed stunning new packaging on their 15 Year Old Distillery Edition Scotch Whisky. Evocative imagery of the Glenfiddich Distillery is featured along with a bespoke foot label – all wrapped in a beautiful smoky grey and gold gift tube further enhancing the premium feel for the discerning whisky drinker.

A higher strength single malt Scotch whisky, crafted with Glenfiddich’s century-old traditions. After at least 15 years maturing in traditional American oak and Spanish oak, it is non-chill filtered and bottled at 51% ABV to protect its subtle flavours. Unique floral and peppery notes are released and a sweet, velvet, warm finish.

Colour: Deep gold autumn barley.

Nose: It needs time to develop in the glass. A delicate floral and creamy aroma with hints of freshly ground black pepper. Its a very clean aroma, in a way. There are two sides: the fruity and the malted barley. On the former it’s pears, almost a cider or mead perhaps, with tones of honey and vanilla; tangerines and dried apricots. On the latter there’s just the touch of summer straw in dusty barns. It’s not massively complex, but it’s expressed very well. And again, just feels clean and precise. With a little water, the fruity and vanilla sweetness of Glenfiddich is released.

Palate: At full strength the smooth, warming flavour is centred around a delicious creamy spiciness. Identical to the nose in many respects, with the two sides of fruitiness and malted barley. More citrus notes, with tangerines, lime juice, as well as sultanas and dried apricots. Those malty notes are a little more restrained, and instead some of the heat of the wood takes over. Bitter chocolate. Pepper. And maybe some feints in the form of digestive biscuits and honey once again. After adding a little water, the softer vanilla and gentle luscious fruit flavours come through.

Finish: Lingering, sweet and velvety warm.

A Coppersmith’s Art: Glenfiddich is one of the few distilleries to employ an onsite coppersmith to build and tend to all our stills. Rare and highly skilled, they’ve only had three coppersmiths since 1957. Their stillman once judged the heat of the stills by expert ear. He would swing a wooden bung hung from the rafters with string, into the side of the still. A hollow sound and the liquid wasn’t in danger of overflowing. After decades spent mastering their craft, their coopers instinctively understand how the very best quality wood can imbue their precious single malt with extra rich layers of character that perfectly complement the velvety, peaty flavours found in their Vintage Cask. To ensure the quality of their wood, they’re one of the last distilleries with their own on-site cooperage. They think it makes all the difference.

At just over £50 for a one litre bottle, it’s a superb purchase. It showcases just how tasty Glenfiddich can be, even being one of the world’s biggest whisky brands. It’s great that there’s some honest pricing still out there.

GLENFIDDICH AGE OF DISCOVERY MADEIRA CASK FINISH 19 YO 40% ABV

DEEP, EARTHY,SWEET RIPE FIGS ORANGE MARMALADE

In homage to the intrepid Portuguese voyagers who went on to change our understanding of the new world, Glenfiddich created its first ever 19 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky. Finished in fine, aged Madeira wine casks from an independent island winery dating back to 1850 this expression was named Glenfiddich Age of Discovery. An earthy, bright whisky with a warmth that fades to long sweetness. The first time they’ve used Madeira casks for incredible, rich depth.

Colour: Antique gold.

Nose: Deep earthy aromas of sweet ripe fig and orange marmalade create a backdrop to bright notes –fresh gooseberry and grapes ripening on the vine.

Palate: Rich, spicy cinnamon and crushed black pepper rest on a deep earthy base. Caramelised fruits, crystallised ginger, raisins and hints of dry oak unravel. A satisfying, silky smooth, almost oily texture.

Finish: Dry with warmth that fades into sweet marmalade notes.

HONOURING EXPLORERS                        

15th Century Portuguese explorers defined sea routes from Europe to Thailand and Malaysia in search of a passage to India. Along the way discovering new islands – Porto Santo and Madeira. Their cultures, customs and fine tastes. They inspired Glenfiddich’s Age Of Discovery whiskies.

Madeira casks holding Madeira fortified wine made from local grapes mature in traditional canteiro warehouses, designed to capture the sun’s heat. The warmth builds remarkably rich flavours into the wine and casks, giving this expression an intense full-bodied finish. To celebrate The Age Of Discovery, Glenfiddich created an exclusive black glass bottle bearing a red cartouche compass. Presented in a beautiful casing that maps out the routes of those first Portuguese adventurers.

The majority of the Madeira casks came from the Canteiro warehouses of Henrique & Henrique, a famous family-owned Madeira Company established in 1850. This is where the casks were first used to mature wine made from luscious Tinta Negra Mole grapes before being transported to The Glenfiddich Distillery.

Glenfiddich produced three 19-year-old expressions in this range: one that was fully matured in bourbon casks, one that was finished in Madeira wine casks and a Red Wine Cask Finish.

The Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask Finish was created to commemorate the 1831 voyage of the HMS Beagle, which traveled to South America so Darwin could pick up fossils and specimens. These helped him to document his theory of evolution. Indeed, the full title of his famous book is printed on the box of whisky:

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Section, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

GLENFIDDICH VINTAGE CASK 40% ABV TRAVEL RETAIL 1.0L

SMOKY, FLORAL AND INTENSE

Glenfiddich’s Malt Master hand-selected the finest casks of European and American oak and married them in small batches to create a truly extraordinary single malt, the culmination of their coopers’ craft and skill.

Unusually for their collection, Glenfiddich Vintage is a lightly peated whisky. The European oak casks give it a vibrant, toffee apple character, while the American oak imparts layers of additional smoky embers and velvety vanilla smoothness. Glenfiddich uses their distinctive Cask Collection Solera vat to meld these complex flavours together, adding extra layers of richness, depth and complexity to create a smoky, characterful and lingering whisky with a delicate yet discernibly peaty note. Exclusively available in Global Travel Retail.

Colour: Golden barley.

Nose: Freshly cut straw and bonfire smoke recall an autumn evening. Smokiness and leafy, floral notes to intrigue and delight.

Palate: An initial burst of sweetness with vanilla, crème brûlée and citrus, immediately followed by a rush of smoke, burning embers and meadow flowers.

Finish: Long lasting floral and smoky notes.

It’s been a long while since Glenfiddich made a whisky with peat. In the days of William Grant, and up to the 1950s, peat was often used in the malting process. This expression pays homage to those times. The new distillate is typically around 25ppm phenol, which reduces to around 15ppm as the liquid matures.

Developed by their fifth Malt Master, David Stewart, the Solera process was inspired by his journey to the sherry-making regions of Spain. Individual casks are hand-chosen for their flavour before being married in a specially constructed Solera Vat that’s always kept at least half full, allowing the individual and complex flavours found in each cask to marry, mellow and create a single malt of ultimate consistency.

GLENFIDDICH RESERVE CASK 40% ABV TRAVEL RETAIL 1.0L

ANTIQUE LEATHER, SPICE AND OAK

Matured in distinctive Spanish sherry casks to create a rich and mellow flavour, each individual cask is hand-selected for its flavour profile by Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, Brian Kinsman.

Once selected, casks are married in their unique Solera vat, allowing their complementary flavours to get to know each other and meld together to create a single malt of extraordinary consistency and quality.

Deliciously smooth and silky, this expression has a sweet, spicy taste and a complex flavour that develops with each sip. Smells like Autumn. A truly intriguing single malt. Exclusively available in Global Travel Retail in 1L bottles at 40% ABV.

Colour: Dark golden, walnut.

Nose: A bold, vibrant aroma with an abundance of spice and oak. Fresh toasted white bread with marmalade. Antique leather and parchment. Honied pears, earthy hay-like malt, roasted apples, caramel, cinnamon, cherries, nuts and a touch of fruit cake and a grapey underpinning. That hay-like malt comes across more prominently the more it sits and opens as does the sherry essence.

Palate: Deliciously smooth and silky. The sweetness of the spirit and spice of the Spanish oak combine to give a complex, intriguing flavour that evolves in the glass. Toffee, dark fruit, hay-like malt, honey, dried orchard fruit, nuts and a bits of cinnamon, cocoa, grapey sweetness, menthol and copper. Like the aroma, the longer this whisky sits and opens the more prominent that hay-like malt and sherry character becomes.

Finish: Drops of copper, cinnamon, malty sweetness and menthol. Very long lasting with an enduring sweetness.

GLENFIDDICH’S UNIQUE AND PIONEERING SOLERA PROCESS

Developed by their fifth Malt Master, David Stewart, the Solera process was inspired by the sherry-makers of Spain. Individual casks are hand-chosen for their flavour before being married in a specially constructed Solera Vat, producing a single malt Scotch whisky that's incredibly complex and rich. The vat is always kept half full throughout the process, ensuring a balanced and consistent flavour.

The calm, peaceful, even reverent atmosphere of Warehouse 8, home to their Solera Vat, is a must-see on any visit to their Distillery. For ten, twenty, thirty, in some cases over fifty years, some of their most precious casks rest here, developing character in the quiet warehouse. To create their Cask Collection, they built three new Solera Vats, the perfect anniversary gift to a Warehouse that celebrates its 60th birthday this year.

To create the Reserve Cask edition, Malt Master Brian Kinsman carefully hand-selects individual sherry casks, reserved for their mellow and rich flavour characteristics which are then married in limited batches in Glenfiddich’s unique Solera Vat. The hand-selected sherry casks impart layers of warm vanilla, deep rich fruits and subtle oaky tannins for a truly rewarding single malt.

THE THREE GLENFIDDICH AGE OF DISCOVERY 19 YO EXPRESSIONS

There are a lot of people writing about whisky. There are few people that write independent reviews. If you have to believe the first category, there are only excellent whiskies. That just is not true. There are a lot of excellent whiskies yes. As there should be because whisky today is expensive! But there is a lot of indifferent product and some stuff is just not good enough. There is a clear need for independent reviewers. I am one of them. I have nothing to do with the industry. I don't sell anything. I don't have the perfect Palate. My opinion is as good as yours! I just taste whiskies and tell you what I think about them. That's all.

DISTILLATION AT MORTLACH EXPLAINED

 THAT MAGIC FIGURE OF 2.81

DISTILLATION AT MORTLACH

Mortlach was founded in 1823 as the first legal distillery in Speyside’s Dufftown. Mortlach is said to defy what Speyside whiskies are known for. It is thick, rich, muscular, meaty, umami-led and savoury and known as the ‘Beast of Dufftown’. The character comes from its 2.81 distillation process which started in 1897 and the process is still in use at the distillery today. 

MORTLACH 2.81 DISTILLATION EXPLAINED

THE WEE WILLIE AT THE OTHER END

The 2.81 distillation process was put in place in 1896. Every single part of the production process at the distillery is tailored and calibrated to create that robust, savoury, muscular style. From the short fermentation times of 53 to 58 hours through to the still house and the condensers, Mortlach uses worm tub condensers which are only found in fourteen distilleries across Scotland.

Mortlach distillery has 6 stills; 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills and what sets them apart is that all their stills are of different shapes and sizes and they all work pretty much independently from one another. They don’t work in perfect pairs but create three different spirit characters from the three spirit stills which are then blended to create the house style. It’s akin to having three distilleries at the one still house. Production began in 1897 using specific processes.

The first of these is the pairing of wash still 3 and spirit still 3 to create a malty distillate. Wash stills 1 and 2 work as a pair, which is unusual. They then take everything that has run through and split it into half, the heads and the tails. The first half from wash stills 1 and 2, the low wines the lighter half, are run through spirit still number 2 which creates a lighter floral distillate.

The heavier half of wash stills 1 and 2 is run through spirit still number 2 once but no cuts are taken. Everything that has run through is run through a second time but with the tails from wash stills 1 and 2. The heavier half and the richer half get richer and more viscous.

If spirit still number 1 is small, and its filled high, then it’s a bit of a copper contact. Taking it around twice is not really cleaning it to that same effect, so no cuts are taken. Everything that has gone around that second time is run through a third time with the set of heads from wash stills 1 and 2 because, by this point, it has become way too thick and way too viscous. A spirit cut is taken from that.

A spirit cut is taken from spirit still number 1 from every third run. Mortlach use worm tub condensers and the water is cold at 10 degrees, which means as soon as that vapour hits the copper, it turns back into liquid. So when the spirit is in liquid form, the copper cannot do its work, so every part of the production process is calibrated to create this character, and this has been calculated to be 2.81.

Thanks to the mind-boggling distillation process developed at Mortlach in 1897, they created something in between double distillation and triple distillation, and it’s called 2.81 distillation.  There are a number of sources online that have described the process, some of them better than others, but overall even after a few hours research, you might still find yourself confused. Some claim that the figure is 2.70.

Mortlach has six copper pot stills, three of which are wash stills, the No.1 and No.2 wash stills are the smallest at 7,000 litres, and the No.3 wash still is much larger at 16,000 litres.  Of the remaining three stills, it will be best to start with the most simple of the three.  Spirit still No.3 is fed by wash still No.3 in a conventional manner, i.e. the wash still produces low wines (low strength spirit usually between 21-25% ABV) and this spirit stream enters spirit still No.3 where cuts are made so as the foreshots and feints are recirculated into the still and the heart can enter the worm tubs. Things start to get a bit more complex now.

Wash stills No.1 and No.2 each have two spirit streams, 80% of the wash from both of these wash stills is channelled to the No.2 spirit still, this 80% is known as the heads, this is where the lighter chemical compounds and the majority of the ethanol is present. Once again cuts are made, the foreshots and feints are recycled back into the spirit still and the heart makes its way to the worm tubs.

The third of the spirit stills, the ‘Wee Witchie’, is the smallest of the three. The

Wee Witchie is integral to the Mortlach distillery when it comes to producing the distinct weightiness of Mortlach, you could even say that it’s the Wee Witchie that makes Mortlach the ‘Beast of Dufftown’.  From the No.1 and No.2 wash stills 20% of the wash known as the tails are channelled into the No.1 spirit still (the Wee Witchie), these tails are low in strength, contain a lot of water and some of the chemical compounds produced in the fermentation phase, one of which is sulphur and it’s the sulphur that gives Mortlach it’s weightiness. Three distillations of the tails are carried out in the Wee Witchie, two of which are blank runs meaning that no cuts are made, and all of the distillate reenters the still; it is only on the third run that cuts are made and the heart makes its way to the worm tubs.  What this triple distillation in the Wee Witchie does is limit the amount of sulphur that can be removed from the distillate so that more sulphur is present in the new make Mortlach than you would usually find in most whiskies.  When sulphur in the distillate reacts with the copper of the pot still it forms copper sulphate which essentially remains glued to the inner wall of the pot still meaning that there is less sulphur in the new make spirit as a result, but in the case of Mortlach the inner wall of the Wee Witchie becomes so saturated with copper sulphate that a lot of the sulphur can no longer bind to the copper and subsequently goes on its way to the worm tubs.

The worm tubs also play a crucial role in producing a more sulphurous spirit, there are only a handful of distilleries that continue to use worm tubs as their method of condensing.  The worm tubs are metal tubes, usually copper which are coiled around many times, these ‘worms’ sit inside ‘tubs’ of cold water, hence the name ‘worm tubs’.  Once the distillate vapour enters the worms it condenses and the liquid new make spirit comes out the other end.  Most distilleries today use ‘shell and tube’ condensers which are made up of many very thin copper tubes which are contained within a metal shell where they’re surrounded by circulating cold water.  The shell and tube condensers significantly increase the spirit’s contact with copper, thus removing even more sulphur.  By using worm tubs, the surface area of the copper that comes into contact with the spirit is greatly reduced meaning more sulphur remains in the spirit, this is another factor that contributes to Mortlach’s weightiness.

Mortlach 2.81 Distillation Calculation                               

Stage 1: Calculating the ratio of double and quadruple distilled spirit                  Percentage of x4 distilled spirit from spirit still No.1 (Wee Witchie) = 33.9622641509434% (33.9623%)                                                      Percentage of x2 distilled spirit from spirit still No.2 = 32.0754716981132% (32.0755%)                                                                                      Percentage of x2 distilled spirit from spirit still No.3 = 33.9622641509434% (33.9623%)                                                                                      Percentage of spirit that is x4 distilled = 33.9622641509% (33.9623%)    Percentage of spirit that is x2 distilled = 66.0377358491% (66.0377%)    2/100×33.96226 = 0.67925                                                      2/100×32.07547 = 0.64151                                                                  4/100×33.96226 = 1.35849

Stage 2: Adding the ratios together to give the distillation figure (the simple way of doing this gives a figure of 2.7 which is often what some people claim as being Mortlach’s number of distillations).

0.67925+0.64151+1.35849 = 2.67925 (The 2.7 figure that some people often claim is the ‘true’ distillation ratio of Mortlach).

Stage 3: Incorporating a correction factor for the distillation process, which when added to the figure of 2.7 gives the stated figure of 2.81     

1.35849-1.32076 x 3.396226 = 0.12814                                             2.67925+0.12814 = 2.80739 (2.81)       

A SUPERB COLLECTION OF TOP CLASS GLENFIDDICH BOTTLINGS

 MOST MEMORABLE GLENFIDDICH RELEASES

GLENFIDDICH 21 YO RESERVA RUM CASK FINISH 40% ABV

An exquisite, traditional Speyside whisky finished in Gran Reserva rum casks from the Caribbean.

Patiently matured for 21 years onsite at the distillery, it is an exquisite, traditional Speyside whisky, rich and ripe with Glenfiddich signature notes. But rather than bottle it, as other distillers would, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master hand picks selected barrels and adds a sublime finishing touch, making it even warmer and richer flavours by uniquely pouring this single malt into first fill bourbon barrels that once contained rum from the Caribbean.

The rum-soaked cask infuses the aged whisky with a spicy warmth and indulgent vanilla and toffee sweetness, the character of the Caribbean shining through. This gives the whisky a sumptuous sweet intensity that is both rich and creamy yet retains the unmistakable character of Glenfiddich. Caribbean rum casks awakens the liquid, rousing it with extra exotic notes of ginger, fig, lime and banana and a vibrant spicy toffee warmth, elevating it from something great to something extraordinary.

Great for those expecting a very mature, traditional yet intriguing malt. Initially soft, then brisk, vibrant and drying. New leather and oak nose combine with complex sweet, smoky and subtle ginger flavours in this classic Glenfiddich.

Colour: Dark gold.

Nose: Intense and vanilla sweet. Floral, hints of banana, figs, rich toffee, new leather and oak.

Palate: Initially soft, then brisk, vibrant and drying, peppery, a touch of smoke, oak, lime, ginger and spices.

Finish: Very long, warming, dry and spicy.

Raised in Scotland. Roused by the Caribbean.

THE CHINESE NEW YEAR EDITION 2021

This is a limited edition bottling of the Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Reserva Rum Cask Finish single malt Scotch whisky released to honour the Chinese New Year 2021. 

After maturing the whisky for 21 years, the Malt Master adds even warmer and richer flavours by uniquely finishing this single malt in first fill bourbon barrels that once contained rum from the Caribbean.

2021 is the year of the Ox, starting from February 12th, 2021 (Chinese lunar New Year Day) and lasting until January 30th, 2022. It will be a Metal Ox year.

It features a particularly snazzy presentation box, with the familiar Glenfiddich stag decked out in a rather handsome shade of orange for the occasion, and an homage to the long journey Glenfiddich takes to make its way from Speyside to Asia in the background.

As in the original edition, the additional molasses found in the rum cask sets the 21 YO Reserva aside from the rest. This rum-like single malt features a new form of enjoyment through the introduction of a Caribbean flavour, famously recognised by the use of a variety of tropical fruits mixed with ginger to deliver a sweet and spicy taste that lingers to the finish.

GLENFIDDICH GRAND CRU 23 YO SINGLE MALT WHISKY 40% ABV

Celebrate the occasion

THE ART OF EXPERIMENTATION

After developing rich and intense flavour through a long, 23-year maturation in American and European oak casks, every drop of Grand Cru then spends an additional six months in French cuvée casks, which impart new layers of decadence. The remarkably rich whisky, already intense in flavour given its long maturation, is finely finessed with influences from French cuvée casks. These vessels were previously used to ferment wine that would in time go on to becoming Champagne. This is the only Glenfiddich Single Malt to undergo this exceptional finishing.

DARING & UNEXPECTED

Grand Cru encapsulates the absolute spirit of luxury and craftsmanship of Glenfiddich while surpassing the very notion of Single Malt, as it sets out to redefine moments of celebration through a new and extraordinary drinking experience.

Created for the non-conformists, it has been uniquely crafted as a surprising delight, at every sip, for those tearing up the rule book and who want to celebrate big life moments in a whole new way. Grand Cru 23 Year Old is a sinful romance between the rich, decadent flavors of Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky and the vibrant, seductive notes found in the world’s best vintage sparkling wines.

THE SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION

This exclusive Glenfiddich expression has been matured for 23 years in American and European oak casks and elegantly finished in rare French cuvee casks. The finest flavours from Scotland and France have been fused together through the art of experimentation, to redefine moments of celebration and create a new and extraordinary drinking experience.

Colour: Dark gold.

Nose: this release is quite rich and honeyed, leaning toward the more decadent side of the spectrum, as is probably appropriate for the occasion theme. Moderately assertive notes of apple, pears in syrup, grass, melon/ cantaloupe and nut-covered toffee. It certainly is an inviting bouquet; classically Speyside but richer than you might expect for the low proof.

Palate: A silky-textured dram that drinks a bit bigger than its proof, which is always a good thing in lower-ABV special releases. Silky in texture, it features some nice flavours of milk chocolate, nutty toffee and spiced pears, with subtle hints of grass and earth in the back half. Honeycomb-like residual sweetness is moderate, and booze is very well hidden, which it should be at this age and proof. All in all, it makes for a moderately rich and fruity, somewhat sweet dram that is approachable yet complex. A bit higher proof might have pushed these elements into even more rarefied air, but regardless, this is a solid release that almost anyone would presumably enjoy.

Finish: Long, opulent and sweet: Poached pears, custard, candied lemon.

If money is for some reason no object this New Year, Glenfiddich Grand Cru would make a lovely centerpiece.

Opinion: The whisky showcases what can happen when it does go beyond its safety net. Glenfiddich’s new high-roller Grand Cru release, a 23 YO, has a theme which really pops from the swanky black-and-gold bottle, a vision of a supreme “occasion” whisky, seemingly targeted at New Year’s Eve in particular. That the whisky was finished in French cuvée casks (sparkling wine) only adds to this impression. It’s a whisky that seems to imply it’s the scotch equivalent of a plush bottle of bubbly you’re cracking open as the countdown to the year end draws near.

It is bottled at a minimal 40% ABV, with a 43% version available to travellers. For its steep cost of £210, it should have been a 46% non-chillfiltered year ender. But that would rouse the expert, whereas this low strength is clearly meant for a 31^st December one-session binge.

Daring and unexpected, Grand Cru encapsulates the rich spirit of innovation and craftsmanship of Glenfiddich with the celebratory and indulgent character of sparkling wine.

GLENFIDDICH EXCELLENCE 26 YO 43% ABV

Deep oak, spring blossom, brown sugar and exotic spices.

The expression was introduced in 2014 as the distillery’s second bottling in their excellence range, following the 18 year old. Unlike all the other expressions in the Glenfiddich age statement range, this is the only current bottling which forgoes sherry influence for a pure ex-bourbon maturation. It’s bottled at 43% ABV and is available for £359.

A rare and aged single malt Scotch whisky that has spent 26 long years carefully maturing in American Oak ex-bourbon casks. This expression was created to honour Glenfiddich's line of continuous family ownership since William Grant founded this distillery in 1887.

Doing things our own way means we can create a luxurious single malt that truly lives up to its name. We’ve created a vibrant yet soft and delicate expression, with a deep and complex balance of sweetness and dry oak tannin. Bound to excite the palate and awaken the nose.

Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old whisky is available in selected markets.

Colour: Rich golden.

Nose: Soft and delicate with a beautiful floral character. Fruit-forward with peaches, apricots, pineapple and guava. Wild honey and crisp furniture polish is joined by vanilla sponge, coconut shavings and freshly-pressed waffles. Running throughout – full grain leather, old parchment, steeped fruit tea and scattering of mint leaves. There’s not too much scope for dilution, but a few drops adds some expressive orchard fruit – apple and pear alongside strudel and golden syrup. Generally light, fruity and sugar-led, but pretty elegant and welcoming at the same time.

Palate: Vibrant with a compelling balance of dry tannin and soft brown sugar vanilla sweetness. The arrival has more of a syrupy body than you’d expect from 43% - it offers some texture and mouth cling. Juicy ripe fruits are up first – orange, mango and peach segments served with spit-roasted pineapple. Fruit is quickly followed up with cask – and it has considerably much more influence than on the nose – white pepper, freshly grated ginger and some puffs of charred cask ends. Running throughout – wood lacquer,  polishes and a handful of candied lemon peels. Reduction here should be approached with care – but it adds flavours of burnt honeycomb, freshly-baked pastries and spiced apples. A deep oak flavour gradually builds, with hints of spice and liquorice shining through.

Finish: Deep and complex. Tropical fruits and peppery spice fade into the back whilst charred drying wood takes over.

Glenfiddich Excellence 26 year old is not overly deep, nor profound, but it is nevertheless exceedingly tasty. The fruit-packed nose is genuinely the excellence that the bottle name refers to  - packed full of expressive stone and tropical fruits, all wrapped up in a perfectly judged polished oak blanket. The palate and finish don’t quite reach the same dizzy heights, but they’re still both full of vibrancy, poise and elegance. There’s not quite enough depth for this to be a truly contemplative whisky, but the balance is faultless.    

Toasting The Cask Releases The Flavour: After their staves are assembled, each cask is toasted over an open fire. Toasting enables the vanillins and the tannins in the wood to be released, giving the contents flavour and colour. A light toasting imparts subtle flavours while a heavily toasted cask delivers strong and powerful flavours, as well as a darker colour single malt.

GLENFIDDICH 30 YO RARE SINGLE MALT WHISKY 40% ABV

A 30 YO with deep, layered flavours and a masterful finish.

The Glenfiddich 30 Years was first launched in 2007 and saw new editions in 2010 and 2018. It is one of their high-end single malt bottlings, topped by the 40 and 50 year-old versions in the core range. It is matured in American bourbon casks and around 30% of European Oloroso sherry casks. Every cask used in this superb single malt Scotch whisky is personally nosed and tasted by their expert Malt Master, ensuring the whisky achieves its rich character and seductive complexity. Only casks that pass his exacting standards are handpicked and then married together to achieve their final sublime harmony.

This process ensures the unique character and richness of taste that sets the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old apart. The rarity of this single malt is unquestionable – there are only ever a handful of vattings of 30 Year Old a year.

This sublime and truly precious whisky is a harmony of subtle sherry and fig notes beautifully balanced with rich dark chocolate flavours.

Colour: Rich bronze.

Nose: A finely balanced nose, with substantial oakiness matched by fruit and luscious sherry notes. Really gentle, even a bit shy. Stewed fruits (peaches, oranges, plums) and a few buttery touches, with a malty core, ginger and nutmeg. Polished furniture, a hint of cigar boxes. A little cocoa, raisins and roasted nuts as well, but all silky smooth.

Palate: Complex and seductively woody, emphasised by a floral sweetness, yet really gentle, even a bit shy. Stewed fruits (peaches, oranges, plums) and a few buttery touches, with a malty core, ginger and nutmeg. Polished furniture, a hint of cigar boxes. A little cocoa, raisins and roasted nuts as well, but all silky smooth.

Finish: Exceedingly long, honeyed and warm, with chocolate notes, leather and oak spice.

A Cooper’s Craft: These casks are as valuable as the specialist wood craftsmen who build and tend to them. Glenfiddich is one of the only distilleries to have their coopers onsite – enduring traditions that keep their casks and whiskies exceptional.

Rare skills, specialist knowledge and some of the oldest wisdom in the world of whisky have been passed down through the generations.

GLENFIDDICH 40 YO 43-47% ABV

Intense dried fruit, roasted coffee, stewed apple, bitter chocolate and faint peat.

Glenfiddich 40 YO is not only precious but also pioneering. Their Malt Master carefully hand selects individual casks before marrying them together with what was left over from the previous 40 Year Old vatting. This continuous process is known as "remnant vatting" and contains whiskies that are at the very least, 40 years old. Glenfiddich is the only single malt Scotch whisky in the industry to use remnant vatting. As a result, its uniquely rich and deep flavour was voted the "Best of the Best" single malt by Whisky Magazine in 2003, collected the Trophy at both the ISC and the IWSC in 2008 (the first time any whisky has won both in the same year) and Best Single Malt at the ISC in 2010.

An exemplary single malt. Handpicked from some of the oldest casks in the world, marrying 40 year old vattings to craft a peerless whisky. Infinite depth and layer upon layer of aroma and flavour create a 40 year old unrivalled by other rare whiskies of this age. Each elegant bottle is individually numbered and offered in a handsome presentation case of the finest, hand-stitched calf-leather with embossed print work and an intricately designed lock and key. Each is accompanied by a leather bound book telling its 40 year old story, with certification hand-signed by their longest-serving craftsmen.

The Finest Oak: Their 40 Year Old is matured in the finest Ozark Mountain American oak, from forests stretching between Missouri and Arkansas; and the highest quality European oak from Spain and Portugal. The bourbon and sherry opens up the oak letting it breathe, soften and absorb layers of subtle flavour that grow and change over time.

Less than 1000 bottles are released to the world each year, each batch eagerly anticipated by experts.

Colour: Dark mahogany.

Nose: Beautifully rich and aromatic with layer upon layer of dried fruits, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and ripe black cherries. Occasional wafts of gentle wood smoke, polished leather and cloves.

Palate: Aged, but still incredibly vibrant considering it's age. Silky smooth and luxuriously mouth coating. The typical Glenfiddich Speyside characteristics come through; initial flavours are intense dried fruits, Christmas cake, dates, raisins and stewed apples. Over time slightly dryish oak notes appear with some bitter chocolate and just the merest hint of peat.

Finish: Incredibly long lasting and complex – a truly memorable experience.

Fermentation in Douglas Fir: Glenfiddich believes the biological interaction between wood and wash even in fermentation plays a part in the final character of their whisky. So they continue to craft their washbacks from Douglas Fir, where others use stainless steel, a tradition that protects the integrity of their whisky.

GLENFIDDICH 50 YO 46.1% ABV

Vibrant, zesty, vanilla toffee and gentle smoke.

Only the second vatting and one of the oldest, finest whiskies. Just 50 bottles of this single malt Scotch whisky are released each year. One of the final 50 bottles of the expression, this bottling was unveiled in 2017, marking Glenfiddich’s 125th year. The 50-year-old blend contains whiskies first distilled more than 80 years ago!

Handcrafted and Presented...Presented in a hand-blown bottle. Individually numbered in wax and finished in Scottish silver by Thomas Fattorini, a sixth generation silversmith. Each bottle of the 50 YO single malt whisky is carried in hand-woven silk and encased in hand-stitched leather. The whisky’s presentation case also features a leather-bound book, detailing the whisky’s rich history.

A culmination of over a century of expert craft, traditions passed down by five generations and spirited invention. Inspired by the first vatting from just nine casks honouring each of William Grant’s nine children, who helped to build Glenfiddich by hand.

This exquisite whisky was drawn from two exceptional casks, both matured for 50 years. Their Malt Master married them with great care to craft a perfectly harmonious aroma and flavour.

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: A beautifully harmonious, uplifting, vibrant and complex aroma. Delicate rose petal and violets intertwine with green tobacco leaf, oak and faint hints of smoke.

Palate: Initially very sweet, with zesty orange marmalade and vanilla toffee, cascading through layer after layer of aromatic herb, floral and soft fruits, silky oak tannin and gentle smoke.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with a touch of dry oak and the merest trace of peat.

MORE THAN 120 YEARS IN THE MAKING

Time, tradition and a Malt Master’s expertise make this whisky. Nosed more than ten times by our longest serving Malt Master and the Malt Master before him. Casked in the 1950s by Gordon Ross, who learnt his skill from the son of the founder, a skill passed on to him from founder, William Grant.

Rare, sought after, historic.

GLENFIDDICH TRYING TO WREST BACK NO 1 SPOT

 The Glenfiddich OUT OF HOME Experimental Series

Despite being the world’s most awarded single malt whisky and pioneer of the category, Glenfiddich global market share was static and it had slipped to become the No.2 brand in 2017. It embarked upon a bold strategy to reassert its leadership by recruiting a new generation of drinkers with the introduction of a new range of innovative whiskies. William Grant & Sons UK launched its first ever dynamic digital out of home (OOH) campaign for Glenfiddich and its innovative Experimental Series.

Glenfiddich Experimental Series, the result of collaborations with trailblazers from the whisky world and beyond, aimed to position the brand as a more accessible and exciting choice amongst drinkers previously alienated by the stuffy conventions associated with whisky.

Devised by OOH and location marketing specialists, the campaign sought to capture the attention of whisky fans at the right time of day and week for enjoying a drink.  The highly targeted campaign used location and behavioural data to determine audience hotspots and identify prime screen locations near on-trade stockists in major UK cities to drive footfall and encourage trial.

Launching with Glenfiddich IPA Experiment, the world’s first single malt whisky finished in India Pale Ale (IPA) casks, and Glenfiddich Project XX, the result of marrying 20 casks into one exceptional whisky, the brand needed a global creative idea that that challenged traditional whisky communication conventions and that was as striking and bold as the liquids themselves.

The campaign idea, “Unlearn Whisky”, communicated the power of maverick thinking, a spirit which has embodied Glenfiddich’s approach to whisky making for over 130 years, and challenges drinkers’ preconceptions of the category by demonstrating how Glenfiddich is rewriting the whisky rulebook.

The third experiment saw Glenfiddich 21 Year Old finished in French-oak ice-wine casks from Canada. Malt Master Brian Kinsman was in Canada in January 2017 and visited a winemaker at a renowned winery in Niagara. Despite the freezing January weather, he braved the tour of the vineyards, where he learned how the grapes had to be picked by moonlight at -10˚C when they were as hard as pebbles. These stories about extreme conditions and the unique production process of the intensely sweet Icewine were inspirational.

When he returned to The Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Brian started experimenting with several French oak Icewine casks from the Canadian winery, filling them with different Glenfiddich aged malts for up to six months. What he found fascinated him. Only the rarer whiskies, those aged for 21 years, could cope with the extra Icewine intensity. Having more tannins, extracted from years in oak, these malts brought out a uniquely fresh lychee note instead of being swamped by sweetness. First released in October 2017, subsequent batches were made available to the public.

Activated through Posterscope’s Liveposter platform, the campaign creative featured all three experiments in a variety of executions with contextually relevant messaging based on location and time. The work ran on Thursdays to Saturdays until the onset of winter on national roadside digital six sheets and National Rail, London Underground and Glasgow subway digital six sheets.

The ability to serve creative and relevant messaging to whisky fans at a time when they would be receptive to such communication, and close to an establishment where they could explore the range for themselves, was an exciting and compelling proposition. By using multiple data sets and OOH location marketing expertise, they aimed to reach the right people at the right time and in the right place and encouraged them into local establishments to taste the unique and unusual flavours of the Glenfiddich Experimental Series.

The campaign for Fire & Cane — the fourth new single-malt offering in Glenfiddich’s “Experimental Series” — aimed to reflect the series’ mission of introducing “unexpected” and inspiring whiskies, while also visually conveying the new spirit’s unusual flavour profile. Although it is officially an NAS whisky, it is said to be between 12 and 15 years of age.

The campaign brought to life the brand’s maverick spirit and in parallel the power of a simple question and how it could lead one on a journey to challenge conventions. The newest expression is an unexpected peated whisky finished in Latin rum casks which provides an explosion of campfire smokiness and toffee sweetness. Fire & Cane is a first of its kind for Glenfiddich. It shows the power of a question by boldly asking, what if …? The new single malt encapsulated Glenfiddich’s spirit of experimentation.

The campaign vindicated the hypothesis that when you questioned convention as Glenfiddich had with Fire and Cane, you could spark the unexpected.