 |
The 64yo Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 is the oldest single malt ever to be bottled. Released in 2001 by William Grant & Sons, there were just 61 original bottles produced from a single cask |
UK. Glenfiddich Distillery bade a fond farewell to the last bottle of Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 as it made its way to Hong Kong to be sold by spirits & wines duty free concessionaire Sky Connection.
The 64yo Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 is the oldest single malt ever to be bottled. Released in 2001 by William Grant & Sons, there were just 61 original bottles produced from a single cask.
Commenting on the departure of Glenfiddich’s oldest son, Malt Master David Stewart said: “There are a lot of mixed emotions here. On the one hand, we’re extremely proud of having produced a whisky of such fantastic quality that’s stood the test of time and on the other there’s a tinge of sadness at saying goodbye.
“Having said that, this bottle is in the right shop window for finding a good home to go to.”
Baker Salleh, CEO of Sky Connection, added: “We are committed to having the world’s best at our Free Duty shops and we are indeed honoured that William Grant & Sons agreed to part with their rarest and finest whisky so we can showcase it to international travellers at Hong Kong International Airport.”
Normally whiskies that reach this great age are either long past their best or have lost their strength. However, this whisky is said to be exceptional having matured slowly, allowing it to develop a distinctive character. With its toffee caramel and cinnamon nose, chocolate and treacle flavours and rich walnut colour, Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 is described as full of complexity and subtlety.
Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 was distilled in the same year as the Coronation of King George VI and when Tolkien’s The Hobbit was first published. At the time, The Glenfiddich Distillery was one of only six distilleries open and producing whisky in Scotland. This makes Scotch whisky from 1937 extremely rare. And it was only in autumn 2001 that Glenfiddich Malt Master David Stewart declared the Glenfiddich in cask 843 had finally matured to perfection.
On 24 October 2001, cask 843 was removed from its home, hand filled into just 61 bottles at 44% ABV (64 years of evaporation had taken the rest, dubbed “˜the angel’s share’), individually numbered with handwritten labels, signed by Peter Gordon, the great-great-grandson of Glenfiddich founder, William Grant, and presented in an oak box with its own lock and key.
Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937 has been sold in 20 countries around the globe.
NOTE: Sky Connection’s liquor stores at Hong Kong International Airport were profiled recently in The Moodie Report print edition and Baker Salleh interview. For the interview click here and for the further profile click here.
MORE STORIES ON GLENFIDDICH
Glenfiddich and World Duty Free create a unique experience at London Stansted airport – 05/02/04
