William Grant & Sons Introduces Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish

gfdob-non43New York, NY (September 29, 2016): Glenfiddich – the world’s most awarded and best-selling single malt Scotch whisky – announces the U.S. launch of the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, a new range of single malts that combines the brand’s passion for pushing Scotch whisky boundaries and collaborating with trailblazers beyond the world of whisky. Today sees the unveiling of the first release from the series: the Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish, the world’s first single malt Scotch whisky finished in IPA craft beer casks.

Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, created the Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish in collaboration with a local Speyside craft brewer who shares a passion for innovative flavors. The duo worked together to pioneer a new single malt Scotch whisky imbued with zesty citrus and tangy hops from the oak casks that had previously held a bold Speyside IPA custom brewed for Glenfiddich.

To pioneer a brand new malt, the collaborators first had to design and create a new IPA craft beer that would go into whisky casks, which would later be used to finish the first variant of the Glenfiddich Experimental Series. The intensive experimental process involved creating three separate brews of different strengths and levels of hops. Kinsman seasoned up to nine American oak casks at a time with the IPA brews, varying the time the beer spent imparting character into the oak casks, before filling the casks back up with whisky to assess the flavor profiles.

Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, Brian Kinsman said: “The Experimental Series builds on Glenfiddich’s long tradition of innovation and takes us to new levels of experimentation in a way no distillery has ever done before. The idea to experiment with single malt and beer was quite unusual but one we were passionate about – we wanted to really play with the flavors to see what we could create. The result is a liquid with a zesty citrus note followed by soft, sweet vanilla and a hint of fresh hops. The innovative flavor comes from carefully hand-selecting the right malt whiskies to complement the extra hoppy notes.”

The Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish (MSRP: $69.99 / 750ml) will be available nationally beginning October 2016 at luxury whisky retail stores and premium bars and hotels in the United States. “We’re excited to introduce Glenfiddich’s Experimental Series with the India Pale Ale Cask Finish to the U.S., a market whose whisky consumers are open to exploring new and unusual releases,” says Michael Giardina, U.S. Senior Brand Manager for Glenfiddich.

Created from partnerships and collaborations with like-minded innovators from a wide range of different industries, the Glenfiddich Experimental Series unlocks new whisky possibilities in the true spirit of experimentation. The Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish is the first in the series, which will include a number of unexpected variants over time.

Malt Master Brian Kinsman’s Tasting Insight:

Nose

A beautifully delicate balance of ripe green apple, William’s pear and spring blossom. Aromatic hops and fresh herbs complement the characteristic Glenfiddich fruitiness and sweet, vanilla oakiness.

Taste

Vibrant with a zesty citrus note followed by soft, sweet vanilla and a hint of fresh hops

Finish

Long lasting sweetness with subtle green hops

ABV

43%

Serve Recommendation

Pour over a ball of ice, rim the glass with a small wedge of blood orange, then squeeze into the whisky for an unexpected twist.

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.

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 11 times over the past 16 years.

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, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.