If someone on your list already owns everything, Glenfiddich has a few suggestions. For the holidays, the Speyside distillery is putting forward five rare expressions of its single malt Scotch, from a 21-year-old to a 40-year-old. All are packaged to look as good as the whisky tastes.
Glenfiddich, which bills itself as the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, is pitching the collection as a way to show appreciation for the people who matter most. Jamie Johnson, the brand’s Canadian National Brand Ambassador, says each bottle reflects decades of craftsmanship and distinctive character, making it a memorable choice for the whisky lovers in your life.
The Five Bottles
Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva. Matured for 21 years in Scotland, this one gets a finishing touch in Caribbean Reserva rum casks. Expect ginger, rich fig and zesty lime rising into sweet toffee and warm spice. The nose offers vanilla, florals, banana and new leather, and the palate moves through pepper, subtle smoke, oak and lime to a long, warm, dry finish.
Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand Cru. This is the Scotland-meets-France bottle. After 23 years in American and European oak, it rests in rare French cuvée casks. The result is a deep gold whisky with notes of apple blossom, fresh bread and candied lemon, followed by brioche, sandalwood, pear sorbet and white grape. The finish is long and sweet, and the black-and-gold packaging suits the occasion.
Glenfiddich 29 Year Old Grand Yozakura. Inspired by Japanese cherry blossoms viewed under moonlight, this limited edition is finished in rare Japanese ex-Awamori casks. It delivers toasted oak, creamy vanilla toffee and silky tannins, and arrives in a box decorated with cherry blossoms. It’s one for the collector who prizes rarity and artistry.
Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Suspended Time. Part of the Time Series, this bottle marks a spirit laid down by the Malt Master three decades ago. The nose pairs robust oak with gentle sherry sweetness, while the palate offers deep, woody layers and delicate florals, ending in a warm, honeyed finish. Its rich bronze decanter sits in packaging with ribbons frozen in motion, so the bottle appears to hang in mid-air.
Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Cumulative Time. The centrepiece of the lineup is shaped like the layered strata of a rocky valley. It’s made using remnant vatting, a technique in which the Malt Master carries a portion of each batch forward and marries it with the casks chosen for every later release. That gives four decades of depth in one bottle. The nose brings dried fruit, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and black cherry, with gentle smoke, leather and clove. The palate runs from fruitcake, dates and raisins to dry oak, bitter chocolate and a hint of peat. Only a limited number of bottles exist worldwide, which makes it the ultimate gift for the person who has everything.
Where to Find Them
The Glenfiddich Grand Series and Time Series are available in select provinces across Canada. Availability varies, so check with your local retailer. More about the distillery is at glenfiddich.com.
Glenfiddich is run by the fifth generation of the Grant-Gordon family and is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated distilleries in the world. It is part of William Grant & Sons, founded in 1887.
