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A precious dram – the rare Glenfiddich 50yo Single Malt, which was revealed to the world last week |
UK/INTERNATIONAL. “Having waited patiently for many years under lock and key, this whisky has now reached a point of perfection.” That’s how William Grant & Sons Malt Master David Stewart described the new Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Single Malt, revealed at a special unveiling to 50 guests – including The Moodie Report – in Scotland last week. (For our story, plus images and a Podcast from that spectacular Scottish evening, click here.)
The first bottle of 50yo will be sold through Aelia at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport T2E on 1 September, with a retail price of US$10,000. There are just 500 bottles of 50yo in existence, and 50 will be made available each year for the next ten years.
As the man who chose the two casks – one each from 1955 and 1957 – that were married to create 50yo – David Stewart speaks with the voice of authority. His career with William Grant & Sons spans more than 45 years, making him the Scotch whisky industry’s most experienced malt master.
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Pride and tradition: The craftsmen who helped to create Glenfiddich 50yo, pictured at the distillery |
Speaking about the process of selecting the casks, Stewart told The Moodie Report: “The key for us was to ensure that this was typical of Glenfiddich. Sometimes whiskies of that age can be overly oaky, and can mask the true character of the whisky. The 50yo is floral, it’s fruity, it’s sweet, it has a complex taste, but it’s not too oaky, and [the taste] doesn’t disappear quickly.”
The new 50yo is true to the rest of the Glenfiddich portfolio, noted Stewart, in its character and style. He said: “There’s quite a good progression from the 30yo to the 50yo we believe. The 40yo has a stronger sherry character to it, but 50yo links back to the rest of the line very well.”
The two casks that made up 50yo lay for a half century in the famed Warehouse 8 at the distillery, an otherwise non-descript warehouse with white-washed stone walls and a traditional grey-slated roof.
The key moment in the creation of 50yo came in April, when the ceremonial “˜emptying and marrying’ of the two casks took place – a nervous time for even the most skilled craftsmen.
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(Left) Malt Master David Stewart noses the 50yo; (Right) Marrying the two casks from 1955 and 1957 | |
As much as 70% of the final whisky’s character can come from the wood in which it is matured, and because no two casks are identical, no whisky from two different casks will taste exactly the same.
Using traditional methods and an original brass pump from the 1960s, Stewart and Head Warehouseman Eric Stephen emptied one cask into the other, a European oak butt, and married them together for a further three months. It was during this time that any flavour fluctuations that may have occurred during maturation were harmonised to produce 50yo.
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Opening the doors to Warehouse 8, where the casks that created the 50yo were stored |
Key role of craftsmen
A key component in the success of Glenfiddich, noted Stewart, was the long service of its people. “I’ve been working with some of the same people in the company since I joined, and some of them have even longer service. The coopering, the distillation side and also the warehousing are very important elements in the business and continuity in those areas has helped us remain successful.”
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Malt Master David Stewart on the qualities of Glenfiddich 50yo |
Other key influences on the Glenfiddich character are Head Cooper Don Ramsay, Coppersmith Dennis McBain and Warehouseman Eric Stephen, each of whom has many years of service with the company.
Chairman Peter Gordon noted: “It’s an extraordinary pleasure to work with these craftsmen, and Glenfiddich is part of their DNA, and is a culmination of their many years of learning about whisky-making.”
Although automation plays its part in the process today, many of the same skills are used to produce Glenfiddich as were used when William Grant built his distillery in 1887. Glenfiddich claims to be the only distillery in Scotland to use a single source of water throughout production; plus it has a team of coopers to mend and tend every cask used to make its whiskies; traditional wooden washbacks for fermentation; and direct-fired, unusually small stills.
Personal milestone
The launch also marks a personal milestone for Stewart, who retires later this year after 46 years of service to William Grant & Sons. His role will be taken on by Deputy Malt Master Brian Kinsman.
Stewart said: “There are very few master blenders that have the chance to work with whiskies of this great age, so I’m privileged to have worked with a company that had the foresight to lay down these casks for so long. This will be part of my legacy and a great way to bow out of the company after nearly 50 years.”
Glenfiddich 50yo Tasting Notes
The colour: Pale gold
The nose: Harmonious with a vibrant and complex aroma. Delicate floral notes are intertwined with green tobacco leaf and oak with a faint hint of smoke.
The taste: Initially very sweet with a zesty orange marmalade and vanilla toffee, which moves through a series of layers: aromatic herbs, floral and soft fruits, silky oak tannin and hints of gentle smoke.
The finish: Exceptionally long with a touch of dry oak and a hint of peat.
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The first pour of The Glenfiddich 50 Year Old during last week’s unveiling ceremony at the distillery | |
*We’ll bring you further news, images and podcasts on Glenfiddich 50yo in the weeks ahead, in the run-up to the 1 September launch with Aelia at Paris CDG Terminal 2E.
MORE STORIES ON WILLIAM GRANT & SONS
Landmark moment for William Grant & Sons as Glenfiddich 50 Year Old is revealed – 30/07/09
Grant’s strikes gold at IWSC 2009 competition – 29/07/09
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