“When it gets to 18 years old, that’s the start of connoisseurs’ territory and that’s where you need to give the whisky a little more respect. Sit up straight, put on a tie, choose your company well and talk a little posher!” explains Ian Millar, Global Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich. With the recently released Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old available in South Africa this month, we have a feeling a lot more suits and ties will be donned around the country.
Glenfiddich’s decision to add a 26 year old whisky to their line-up finds its inspiration not only in this family owned company’s pride in sharing its exceptional whiskies with whisky lovers around the world, but also thanks to a little competitive rivalry. “We did have a 30 year old in the market, but nobody else did, so it seemed like a bit of a waste,” explains Ian. “We had the opportunity because we had the whisky, and because we had the whisky it seemed only appropriate to start looking at why we’ve got a 30 and why we don’t operate at a 25. So we refocused and now we have a 25 year old in duty free and a 26 year old in domestic markets. This means that we can now take on our competitors at the same age statement that they have enjoyed for some time. We’ll give them some competition… They’ll enjoy it; it’ll keep them on their toes!”
“American White oak is grown in flatter lands than Spanish oak, and is exposed to more extreme temperatures. It has less tannins – so less of that peppery bite – and it's very sweet because it has lignin, and when you char the casks that lignin breaks down and creates vanillin, which gives you that toffee, vanilla, caramel sweetness,” explains Ian. “American oak is good because it better showcases the naked flavour of an individual distillery. European oak, because it is previously used for sherry, can tend to overwhelm the flavour of the whisky, as 65 % of the flavour comes from the oak that the whisky is matured in.”
The result is a whisky with a light, but beautifully intense flavour. It boasts a delicate floral nose with hints of spice and vanilla sweetness on the palate. “The 25 Year Old has been matured in a combination of European and American oak, but with the 26 Year Old we wanted to create something completely different. After 26 years exclusively in American oak it has a lovely grapefruit citrus, grassy flavour on the palate, without the peppery bite of European oak. It’s light, it’s delicate and it’s delightful,” says Ian. It also looks the part, as it is packaged in an opulent purple presentation box and finished off with an oak stopper reminiscent of the bourbon casks in which it was matured.
While the 26 Year Old is certainly at the pinnacle of whisky sophistication, Ian maintains that whisky lovers are guaranteed of a special experience whatever bottle of Glenfiddich they choose to sample. “Anything that has the Glenfiddich name on it will come with an expected reliability,” he says. “So if you open any bottle of Glenfiddich, it doesn’t matter what expression it is, you know that you’re going to get something good.” Likewise, any bottle of Glenfiddich comes with a distinct sense of status which comes from the renewed emergence of a strong whisky culture around the world, as well as an appreciation of single malts. “If you stand at the corner bar with a big, chunky glass of whisky, you’re making a statement. If you stand at the corner bar with a fluted glass with shrubbery and umbrellas hanging out of it, you’re also making a statement!” says Ian. “Status comes from what you choose as you walk towards the bar. I would be happy to order my whisky on the way to the bar – ‘I’ll have a Glenfiddich, 15 please’ – and I don’t care who hears me because I am proud to ask for that. Whereas if I want a vodka, I may wait until I am at the bar and then whisper it to the bartender and ask him to make it look like a whisky!”So the next time you’re out on the town and wanting to impress those around you, don your best outfit, stand up a little straighter, and say in your poshest accent: “I’ll have a Gelnfiddich 26, please”.
**Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old has a recommended retail price of R3,499 and will be available in luxury whisky retail outlets and premium establishments nationwide from this month.**
<Sidebar> How Best to Enjoy Your Whisky
Ian recommends holding the bowl of your whisky glass in your hand for several minutes first, to warm the whisky before eventually nosing and tasting it. “Temperature has a huge influence on flavour, so the warmer it is – just like a red wine or a cognac – the more flavour and aroma you get. The colder it is, the more contracted and ‘locked up’ it is. By warming it up you’ll release more aroma and flavour, and in so doing you’ll also get rid of some of the sharper notes you get in younger whisky,” says Ian. But does this mean that you can never enjoy your whisky on the rocks? Not necessarily, says Ian: “Whisky can become more palatable for the younger palate if it is served with ice, plus in many countries around the world, it’s so hot that you may actually need it. We would just recommend sticking to a 12, 14 or 15 year old whisky if you’re using ice, while the older expressions should be enjoyed neat.”
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