The Gen XY Lifestyle
Singapore and Glenfiddich: Quinquagenarians-in-arms
Glenfiddich’s Singapore Anniversary Edition 50YO, a limited edition of five bottles, was made to celebrate Singapore’s jubilee year of independence.
The idea, first broached by Matthew Fergusson-Stewart, Glenfiddich’s Regional Brand Ambassador, following a tasting event with local Glenfiddich enthusiasts, became reality after a conversation between Peter Gordon, fifth generation member of the Grant family and Company Director for William Grant & Sons, and Singapore President Tony Tan at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Ceratinly, no expense was spared: each bottle was hand-blown by an expert glass studio and adorned with Scottish silver crafted by Thomas Fattorini, a sixth-generation silversmith. The Scottish Thistle and Singaporean Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid are intertwined on the bottle, case, and certificate, and nestled within the hand-stitched case is a leather-bound book detailing the rich histories of the whisky and Singapore, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Peter Gordon.
“We wanted to commemorate the shared values between Singapore and Glenfiddich – that of a pioneering spirit and a willingness to invest in our future – through the release of the Singapore Anniversary Edition 50 Year Old, shared Leaw SiJie, Regional Brand Manager of Glenfiddich. “It is very costly to keep whisky stock for 50 years, and it can be tempting to sell whiskies at a younger age to maximize profits. However, Glenfiddich has chosen to safeguard an unparalleled number of aged stocks for future generations, and as a family-run company, we are able to take a long term perspective and ensure quality aged stocks are available to make exceptional whiskies.”
The Glenfiddich Singapore Anniversary Edition 50 Year Old will be sold privately, and is available at ₤30,000. Each bottle is accompanied by a one of a kind art piece by five locally- based artists – Andy Yang, Eugene Tan, Chan Wai Lim, Sean Dunston and Flabslab.
Glenfiddich Singapore Anniversary Edition
In Glenfiddich’s long history, only two vattings of the 50 Year Old were ever produced. The first was created in 1991 from nine casks, one for each of William Grant’s children, who helped him build the Glenfiddich distillery by hand in 1887. This Singapore Anniversary Limited Edition 50 Year Old is only the second vatting, and only five bottles commemorating Singapore’s 50th birthday will be released.
“This extraordinary whisky is our heirloom and the pinnacle of our years of whisky-making. The final product is drawn from two casks, both having spent 50 years maturing, and then marrying for six months in an American oak barrel to impart a wondrous array of flavours and aromas in unrivalled harmony. With each year of maturation, a small portion of whisky evaporates, romantically referred to as ‘Angel’s Share’ because before evaporation was understood, it was thought that angels partook of the liquid. Over 50 years this leaves only a small and precious amount of spirit in the original cask, resulting in a rare and valuable liquid that we are excited to share with some of our friends here in Singapore,” said Matthew, explaining the rarity of a 50-year-old whisky.
Colour Pale gold.
Nose A beautifully harmonious, uplifting, vibrant and complex aroma. Delicate rose petal and violets intertwine with green tobacco leaf, oak and faint hints of smoke.
Taste Initially very sweet, with zesty orange marmalade and vanilla toffee, cascading through layer after layer of aromatic herb, floral and soft fruits, silky oak tannin and gentle smoke.
Finish Exceptionally long, with a touch of dry oak and the merest trace of peat.
