Glenfiddich is celebrating the release of its limited-edition Grand Yozakura 29 Year Old scotch whisky through a collaboration with BAFTA-winning Japanese artist Fantasista Utamaro.
The partnership features a series of contemporary digital art installations designed by Utamaro that will appear at major airports (Singapore Changi, Incheon, Taiwan Taoyuan, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong) in the months when cherry blossoms are in peak bloom. The activation sites will be showing one of four different artworks on a digital screen at a time.
For a fully immersive experience, VR headsets will be available at the Taipei and Hong Kong sites to allow visitors to step into a one of a kind virtual gallery to view all four artworks up close. They can also watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos with Utamaro. For locations without oculus headsets, QR codes will be available for users to access the virtual gallery via their phones or desktop.
Utamaro’s creations portray the Japanese cherry blossoms viewed while illuminated at night, the best time to experience the sakura. He has applied his signature technicolour sensibilities to capture the essence of a cherry blossom in full bloom against a night sky.
His design drew inspiration from various other symbols of Japanese culture, reflecting his passion for integrating the beauty of this culture into his work.
Utamaro said: “Creating this art, that showcases the beauty of Japanese culture, has been an honour. I like to push the boundaries of what people expect from traditional art; blending technicolour and manga-style to bring Japanese symbols of culture to life.
“I enjoyed using these digital artworks to represent elements of the Scottish and Japanese processes used to create the whisky itself such as the inclusion of the iconic Glenfiddich stag head incorporated with Yozakura.”
Grand Yozakura is the latest addition to the prestigious Grand Series range. It features a fusion of Scottish and Japanese distilling – aged at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, and finished in oak casks that previously matured Awamori – the oldest distilled alcoholic spirit in Japan. It is the first Scotch whisky finished in rare Awamori casks from Okinawa.
It is inspired by Hanami – which translates to flower viewing in Japanese, and also refers to the ancient tradition of appreciating the fleeting beauty of nature through the Sakura.
Only limited stocks of Grand Yozakura bottles are available globally.
Glenfiddich Global Brand Director Claudia Falcone said: “The Grand Series underpins Glenfiddich’s spirit of innovation and Grand Yozakura is no exception. It is perhaps the most ground-breaking expression to sit alongside the series so far, whilst also being the first limited-edition release.
“Bringing together two scarce components accentuates the anticipation and sense of occasion, paying homage to the brand’s innovative nature when it comes to creating dynamic whiskies of the highest quality. We’re thrilled to be working with Utamaro on this project and his passion for creating pieces of art really demonstrate and reflect the rarity and spirit of the new liquid.”
The expression is now available in select airports and countries worldwide from April and is presented in a specially crafted bottle. To learn more about Grand Yozakura, the artist and Glenfiddich, click on this link and the virtual gallery can be viewed here. ✈
