Glenfiddich unveils beer-influenced whisky

William Grant & Sons-owned Glenfiddich has released a series of innovative whiskies as part of its new Experimental Collection, which includes a single malt aged in ex-IPA beer barrels.

The Glenfiddich IPA Experiment is a single malt Scotch whisky finished in IPA craft beer casks

The Glenfiddich Experimental Series has been designed to “inspire unusual and unexpected variants”, with a new release unveiled every year.

The Dufftown distillery is introducing the series with two permanent releases: an IPA cask finished single malt, and an ambassador collaboration.

Glenfiddich’s malt master Brian Kinsman teamed up with Speyside Craft brewery to produce a single malt Scotch whisky finished in IPA craft beer casks.

The Glenfiddich IPA Experiment is a 43% ABV single malt Scotch whisky imbued with zesty citrus and tangy hops from the oak casks that had previously held a bold Speyside IPA.

The collaborators had to design and create a new IPA craft beer that would go into whisky casks, which would later be used to finish the first experimental variant. The intensive experimental process involved creating three separate brews of different strengths and levels of hops.

Kinsman said: “Glenfiddich’s first whisky finished in IPA craft beer casks is testament to us challenging ourselves to produce something vibrant and unusual.

“The result is a liquid with a zesty citrus note followed by soft, sweet vanilla and a hint of fresh hops. The innovative flavour comes from carefully hand selecting the right malt whiskies to complement the extra hoppy notes.”

Also released this month is Glenfiddich Project XX (twenty), a single malt vatting of 20 different casks, including Port pipes, Sherry butts and first-fill Bourbon casks, each chosen by the brand’s 20 global ambassadors.

Kinsman asked each ambassador to select a cask that best represented their personality from Glenfiddich’s warehouses, before blending them together to create the brand’s first mass collaborated whisky.

Kinsman added: “It has the warm summer fruity character of a classic Glenfiddich but then its ‘multiple personalities’ are revealed as the flavours of candy floss, cinnamon spice, almonds and rich port tannins kick in with the odd hint of liquorice.”

The Glenfiddich IPA Experiment will be available in Tesco’s and specialist whisky stores at a retail price of £45 from 6 September.

Glenfiddich Project XX will be available from specialist whisky stores nationwide from September, priced at £50 for a 70cl bottle.