Sweet Scotch born in January frost
A rather popular TV show promises that winter is about to come, and now it’s actually here – not in a form of pale zombies, but as a wonderful expression of Single Malt Scotch Whisky, proudly flying a stag emblem. The Speyside distillery that probably doesn’t need introduction combined their 130 years of know-how and the crystalline spring of Robbie Dhu with wild imagination and crazy innovation.
Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, went to Canada, cruisin’ for good ideas. He visited a winemaker in Niagara and learned how to pick grapes – in January at 14°F by the moonlight! The grapes were hard as marbles when picked and wine that came from them is incredibly sweet. Brian took a few casks home and started experimenting. He swapped Icewine for Glenfiddich Scotch of various ages and waited for six months. Only the eldest Whiskies (21 years) could handle the experiment – than them tannins for bringing out a unique flavors of lychee. The sweetness of freezing Canada is balanced by oakiness of misty Scotland, and for some reason, the winning flavor is that of tropical fruits. Winter Storm evokes images of ice and doom, but this Scotch couldn’t be kinder and more appealing.