Glenfiddich Selects First Ever Vatted Vintage Reserve

Glenfiddich Brand Ambassadors gather to select limited edition bottling

Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich Malt Master, today unveiled this year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve, a 1974 Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky. The whisky is Glenfiddich’s first ever vatted Vintage Reserve and celebrates the pioneering spirit and adventurous career paths of Glenfiddich’s highly skilled Brand Ambassadors, who joined Brian as part of the selection panel.

Chairing Glenfiddich’s largest ever Vintage Reserve selection panel, Brian Kinsman was joined by 13 of Glenfiddich’s Brand Ambassadors, Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Ambassador and the owner of the world’s largest collection of Glenfiddich whisky – with participants coming from all corners of the world, including South Korea, USA, China and R.S.A.

The panel nosed and tasted three exceptional vatted vintage casks dating from 1973, 1974 and 1975, marking an adventurous change to the selection process. After careful consideration and in-depth debate, the panel selected Vatting Number 2 – a 1974 Glenfiddich.

Glenfiddich Tasting in process

Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich Malt Master, said: “We are always looking at ways of improving and innovating at Glenfiddich so we continue to produce the world’s favourite single malt Scotch whisky. I’m delighted to unveil our first vatted Vintage Reserve, which I carefully married prior to the selection process. After the pioneering launch of Snow Phoenix, which was created by combining single malt whiskies of different strengths, ages and finishes, it’s wonderful to be releasing another vatted whisky in the form of the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve.

“It’s also very exciting this year to have had such a knowledgeable panel of judges who are genuinely passionate about Glenfidddich; the nosing and tasting discussion was a truly fascinating experience.”

Ian Millar, Global Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich, said; “Being a part of the Vintage Reserve selection panel has been a real career high for me. I became a Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador because of my love for fine whisky and passion for Glenfiddich. It is a real life adventure, and I am thrilled to have played a part in Glenfiddich’s pioneering history.”

Brian Kinsman commented: “This year’s Vintage Reserve selection is distinctively Glenfiddich, with rich, spicy oak notes and an amazing vibrancy for whisky of this age. The nose of the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve is rich and oaky with vibrant vanilla sweetness and an intriguing hint of polished leather and liquorice. To taste, it’s initially very sweet with a vanilla toffee character – it’s a beautiful whisky. Just 1,000 bottles will go on sale in September and I look forward to hearing what whisky lovers around the world think of this year’s limited edition bottling.”

You can buy Glenfiddich Malts from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt.

2011 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve: nosing & tasting notes

Nose
The nose of the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve is rich and oaky with vibrant vanilla sweetness and an intriguing hint of polished leather and liquorice. With the addition of a little water there is a burst of fresh fruit and spice – orange marmalade, ripe berries, cinnamon, nutmeg and caramelised pear.

Taste
The taste of the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve is initially very sweet with a vanilla toffee character. The oak tannin develops with time giving a pleasing, oily texture and a slightly drier flavour. With water, it becomes velvety soft and mellow with beautiful layers of fruit, spice, oak and the merest hint of smoke.

Finish
The finish of the 1974 Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve is very long lasting with lingering oak.

The 1974 Vintage Reserve selection panel

The 1974 Vintage Reserve selection panel was made up of the following:
Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, Brian Kinsman
Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Ambassador, Ian Millar
13 of Glenfiddich’s Brand Ambassadors
Barry Chalmers – South East Asia
Claude Fronton – France
David Francis – Nordics
Freddy May – USA
Heather Green – USA
Mitch Bechard – USA
James Chan – Taiwan
Jamie Milne – UK
Jason Duganzich – R.S.A.
Javier Peralta – Spain
Sean Lee – China
Tony de Rooi – Netherlands
Yoonsoo Kang – South Korea
Owner of the world’s largest collection of Glenfiddich, Hans-Henrik Hansen