“Although wine is becoming an increasingly popular choice for maturation within the single malt category, it remains relatively rare to see whiskies finished in a Bordeaux red wine cask, making this an incredibly intriguing and collectable bottling.”
GLENFIDDICH single malt Scotch Whisky, has unveiled Grand Château, its newest limited edition Grand Series.
Glenfiddich Grand Château is a 31 year-old whisky. It marks the first release by the distillery to use red wine casks from the Bordeaux region.
Celebrating a fresh fusion of flavour, the liquid has been matured in American oak before being finished for an extended nine years in exceptional Bordeaux red wine casks from the French wine-growing region.
The finish adds multiple layers of new and unexpected flavour. Indulgent and rich, caramelised cherry and apple intertwines with warming spice and toasted oak; an opulent, yet earthy liquid that’s fruity and at the same time floral.
This limited edition whisky is being released as a part of The Glenfiddich Grand Series, a collection that celebrates the unexpected collision between single malt and cultures from around the world.
Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman said: “Bordeaux red wine casks are an incredibly versatile source of flavour and are recognised widely for their outstanding quality, providing the perfect opportunity to develop a profound spirit that intensifies Glenfiddich’s classic fruity character balanced unusually with notes of deep oak and warming vanilla.
“Although wine is becoming an increasingly popular choice for maturation within the single malt category, it remains relatively rare to see whiskies finished in a Bordeaux red wine cask, making this an incredibly intriguing and collectable bottling.”
Along with designing the bold interior packaging, French Street artist André Saraiva has created ‘The Artist’s Edition’ through disrupting 250 of the traditional Toile De Jouy display box, using them as a canvas to add his playful interpretation of the spirit and its story.
The limited edition display boxes feature Saraiva’s signature ‘Mr. A’ character–a figure that has travelled the world from the streets of Paris to New York, Shenzhen, London and Seoul, and within this design can be seen playfully selecting the extended Bordeaux red wine cask finished whisky at Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland.
Grand Château is the latest addition to the Grand series, which includes Grand Yozakura, a limited edition 29 year-old whisky. The first Single Malt Scotch Whisky to be finished in rare ex-Awamori casks; Grande Couronne, a 26 year-old Scotch Whisky matured in American and European oak casks and finished for up to two years in French Cognac casks; Glenfiddich Grand Cru, aged for 23 years in American and European oak casks and then finessed in French Cuvée oak casks; Gran Cortes, a refined Glenfiddich whisky aged for 22 years in traditional Sherry oak before finishing in very rare Palo Cortado Sherry casks, only available in Asia and Glenfiddich Gran Reserva, patiently mellowed for 21 years in European and American Oak casks before a final flourish in Caribbean Rum casks.
Glenfiddich Grand Château will be available from luxury whisky retail outlets and premium establishments in the UK including Harvey Nichols from September 2024.
And it costs around £1,550.
