Instead of Bubbly, You Might Want to Pop Open a Bottle of...Scotch?
Glenfiddich is the bestselling single malt scotch in the world, but that doesn’t mean the distillery decided to sit back and rest on its laurels. On the contrary, over the past few years it has released new expressions like the Experimental Series, which includes India Pale Ale Cask (finished in IPA casks) and Fire and Cane (finished in rum casks). The brand has also just redesigned its bottles.
The most recent addition to the Glenfiddich core range is Grand Cru ($200), a 23-year-old single malt finished in French cuvée casks. The whisky comes in a black bottle encased in a dark black box with gold design. There have been other whiskies finished in this type of cask before, but Glenfiddich says this is the first permanent addition to a whisky portfolio of its kind.
Malt master Brian Kinsman created the whisky, which spent 23 years in American and European oak barrels before being finished in the French cuvée casks. “The casks have imparted a sweet, brioche, yeasty character to the whisky,” said Kinsman, “which compliments the natural fruity, signature distillery character of Glenfiddich.”
The first batch underwent a three-month finish, but it wasn’t quite right. Kinsman attributed this to how active the casks still were from the yeast, grape debris, and other elements left over from the wine they previously held. Kinsman then refilled the casks for another four to six months, and blended the batches together to create what you will now find in the bottle.
“We have done a lot of experimenting over the years, and I have picked up good insights into what types of casks are likely to work with what age of whisky,” said Kinsman. “The key is trying to get the oak tannin of the whisky to balance with the cask influence.”
The effects of cask finishing can be subtle or explosive; it all depends on the quality and age of the whisky used, the type of casks, and the environment in which they are maturing. Sometimes the concept is more of a marketing ploy than anything else, but in this case the process definitely affected the whisky. Grand Cru is delicate and slightly sweet, with familiar Glenfiddich pear notes that melt into hints of cinnamon, sweet wine, and melon. There’s almost a bit of effervescence on the palate, which may or may not be the power of suggestion--after all, cuvée is the first step in making champagne. Overall, this would make a nice after-dinner dram that does stand out from other Glenfiddich expressions.
The distillery reps are tight-lipped about exactly where the casks came from due to agreements with French suppliers. But Glenfiddich had no shortage of barrels. According to Tracie Franklin, East Coast ambassador for Glenfiddich, the distillery receives around 5,000 different wine casks per year with which to experiment.
One reason for creating this whisky, Franklin said, was to make the single malt category more accessible, even to those who might not be diehard whisky geeks. It’s also an attempt to combine a bit of French elegance with the history and tradition of scotch, and to stay relevant by continuing to expand the category.
“This particular choice of cask finish was new and exciting for us,” said Kinsman. “The aim is that it will be intriguing to consumers who may not be single malt connoisseurs, but who like premium spirits and sparkling wines and enjoy them as part of a celebration or special moments with friends.”
On your next big occasion, you might want to consider uncorking this bottle of single malt instead of popping some bubbly.
You Might Also Like