The World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky Releases Limited-Edition Rare Collection
Cask to celebrate golden anniversary
The World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glenfiddich, celebrates the golden anniversary of its Distillery Visitor Center with the release of 200 Limited-Edition commemorative bottles: ‘Rare Collection Cask No. 20050.’ The Visitor Center was the first of its kind for the Scotch whiskey industry and helped to kick start the boom in whiskey tourism.
“The Valley of The Deer” in Speyside, Scotland, is where William Grant, Glenfiddich’s visionary founder, turned his dreams into reality in 1887 by hand-building the distillery with the help of his seven sons and two daughters in a single year. In the summer of 1969, under the stewardship of Charles and Sandy Gordon, William’s great-grandsons, Glenfiddich opened the doors of its Visitor Center. Now in 2019, the center attracts visitors from all over the world inviting them to walk through 131 years of family history and distilling expertise and remains a key driver in global whiskey tourism. In fact, new stats released by Scotch Whisky Association show the industry is booming like never before, with over 2 million visits in 2018 to whiskey distilleries in Scotland – a record figure, an increase of 6.1% on 2017 and 56% more than in 2010.
David Grant, a cousin of Sandy and Charles, was present when the visitor center was opened this week 50 years ago. It was also the day David was appointed as a Glenfiddich Brand Manager. He said: “Today, people can’t conceive how difficult it was in the 1960s to launch not just a malt whiskey to the world, but the whole concept of single malt whiskey. And our visitor center was at the forefront of our effort and our most successful weapon. The decision to create it and invest our resources in people and money was a stroke of brilliance. This visitor center and the team running it were our most important and effective marketing weapon in the creation of the global brand which Glenfiddich has become.”
Glenfiddich is commemorating its heritage on this golden occasion with a luxury offering to match. This rare whiskey was hand-selected by Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman as a limited-edition single cask release to mark this special 50th anniversary. The release comprises of just 200 numbered bottles, laid down on Christmas Day 1987, Glenfiddich’s centenary year, and matured in American Oak Hogsheads.
Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman commented, “This whiskey, is inspired by the 1969 bottling gifted to VIP guests at the original visitor center opening. 30 years old, it is a true connoisseur’s choice with a host of seductive flavors and subtle aromas. Walnut in color, on the nose, you’ll discover rich Christmas cake, woody spice and warm dried fruits, hints of cinnamon, antique leather and coffee grind with a subtle citrus note enveloped in vanilla sweetness. Then to taste, a beautiful silky-smooth texture, rich and fruity with a sweet-spicy flavor and incredible deep darkness. The oak tannin creates an intriguing balance of sweet and dry with a luxurious mouth coating oiliness. All culminating in a long-lasting, sweet oakiness – a rare and golden whiskey experience to share and enjoy.”
Available now exclusively at the Distillery Visitor Center gift shop, Glenfiddich Rare Collection Cask No. 20050 has a recommended retail price of £1,600. Visit www.glenfiddich.com/50thanniversary
ABOUT GLENFIDDICH SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glenfiddich – the world’s most awarded and best-selling single malt Scotch whisky – is run by the fifth generation of the Grant-Gordon family and today is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated distillers. From dream to dram, the Glenfiddich journey began in 1886 when founder, William Grant, realized his dream of creating the ‘best dram in the valley’ in Dufftown, Scotland. Equipped with distilling expertise, gained after working 20 years at the Mortlach distillery, Grant purchased the necessary tools for the job and he found his premises in the beautiful nearby field of Glenfiddich, Gaelic for ‘valley of the deer’ that also included a pure water source provided by the Robbie Dhu Spring, a vital ingredient in the production of quality whisky. The Glenfiddich distillery was born on Christmas Day 1887, when spirit first flowed from the Glenfiddich stills. The combination of crystal clear water from the spring, home-grown barley, pure Highland air and the unusually small size of the stills, produced an unrivalled single malt Scotch whisky.
Today Glenfiddich continues to be a progressive spirit in challenging malt whisky conventions while also staying true to legacy, by keeping traditional production techniques established by founder, William Grant.
The Glenfiddich core ranges includes: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old (SRP: $39.99), Glenfiddich 15 Year Old (SRP: $59.99), Glenfiddich 18 Year Old (SRP: $99.99), Glenfiddich 21 Year Old (SRP: $179.99) and Glenfiddich 26 Year Old (SRP: $ 499.99). Glenfiddich also produces limited edition bottles, such as Glenfiddich The Original (launched 2014), and a range of some of the oldest and finest vintage cask and private vintage marques in the world. For further information visit www.glenfiddich.com.
TASTING NOTES:
Glenfiddich Rare Collection Cask No. 20050 will be available exclusively at the Visitor Center Shop, Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Banffshire, AB55 4DH, Scotland. 750ml bottle with 56.7% ABV.
Color – Walnut.
Nose – Rich Christmas cake, woody spice and warm dried fruits, hints of cinnamon, antique leather and coffee grinds with a subtle citrus note enveloped in vanilla sweetness.
Taste – Layers of silky smooth, rich and fruity with a sweet spicy flavor and incredible deep darkness.
Finish – Long lasting, sweet oakiness.
ABOUT WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur.
William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 12 times over the past 13 years, including the most recent award in 2018.
Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.
