Glenfiddich has officially launched its much anticipated Glenfiddich Winter Storm in the Australian market, the third instalment in its Experimental Series.
The limited-edition whisky has been finished in Canadian Icewine casks, resulting in a short, crisp premium whisky imbued with a unique layer of sweetness and complexity.
Glenfiddich Winter Storm joins Glenfiddich IPA Experiment – the world’s first single malt Scotch finished in IPA casks – and Glenfiddich Project XX, the result of a collaboration between 20 whisky experts and Glenfiddich’s Malt Master Brian Kinsman. The latter two whiskies were both launched in late 2016.
Winter Storm comes as a result of a trip Kinsman took to Canada in January 2016, during which we visited Peller Estate – a winery in Niagara – and learnt about how the grapes had to be picked by moonlight at -10˚C when they’re hard as pebbles.
Inspired by his experience, Brian returned to The Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, where he started experimenting with several French oak Icewine casks from the Canadian winery – filling them with various Glenfiddich aged malts for up to six months.
“Only the rarer whiskies, those aged for 21 years, could cope with the extra Icewine intensity,” comments Kinsman. “Having more tannins, extracted from years in oak, these malts brought out a uniquely fresh lychee note instead of being swamped by sweetness.”
Glenfiddich says the result is a “perfect Glenfiddich 21 year old”, the taste “a perfect combination of both pioneering liquids, the heightened candied sweetness and oakiness of Glenfiddich are complemented by mouth-watering tropical fruit notes and underlying wine notes.”
Glenfiddich Winter Storm (43% ABV, RRP $350) comes in a striking white ceramic bottle and beautifully embossed presentation box, and is best enjoyed with a frozen grape in a chilled glass.
