Intensified by ice and ingenuity
Winter Storm
For his latest experiment, Malt Master Brian Kinsman found his inspiration in the freezing vineyards of the renowned Peller Estates winery near Niagara, Canada. When he returned to the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, his memories of the extreme conditions and the unique production process of the intensely sweet Icewine led him to experiment with several French oak Icewine casks. What he found fascinated him.
“Only the rarer whiskies, those aged for 21 years, could cope with the extra Icewine intensity. Having more tannins, extracted from years in oak, these malts brought out a uniquely fresh lychee note instead of being swamped by sweetness.” ‒ Malt Master Brian Kinsman
The taste is a perfect combination of both pioneering liquids, the heightened candied sweets and oakiness of Glenfiddich are complemented by mouth-watering tropical fruit notes and a luscious sweetness from the unique Icewine cask finish.
The Process
Brian experienced the freezing Canadian January weather to learn about how the grapes had to be picked at moonlight at -10˚C when they were as hard as pebbles. Working with Peller Estates VP of Winemaking, Craig McDonald, it was an opportunity to push the boundaries of taste to create a new unexpected whisky.
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1. INTENSIFIED BY ICE
Brian experimented with several French oak Icewine casks from the Canadian winery, filling them with different Glenfiddich aged malts for up to six months. Only the rarer whiskies, those aged for 21 years, could cope with the extra Icewine intensity.
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2. INTENSIFIED BY INGENUITY
Brian’s skill in finishing this unique experiment has created a lusciously sweet, short, crisp whisky that offers soft sweet notes reminiscent of candied fruit and Turkish delight that develop into flavours of mouth-watering lychee. The fusion of sweet flavours is soon met with a rich drying sensation from the Icewine.
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3. THE RESULTS
Described as a perfect Glenfiddich 21 year old, Peller Estate’s Craig McDonald sees it as “a unique balance of the warming soul of whisky and the frozen cold of Icewine.” The taste is a perfect combination of both pioneering liquids, the heightened candied sweets and oakiness of Glenfiddich, complemented by mouth-watering tropical fruit notes and underlying wine notes.
Success doesn't just happen
It was a long process, but the results speak for themselves.
The Winter Storm Serve
Experiment with this unique expression
Our best minds got together to discover the perfect compliment to this already extraordinary expression. And this is what they discovered.
METHOD
Step 1 Use a clean, frozen glass.
Step 2 Pour the preferred measure of Glenfiddich Winter Storm.
Step 3 Add a frozen grape.
Step 4 Enjoy as the perfect accompaniment to dessert.
Please drink responsibly
Experiment
Leave the frozen grape to thaw gently in the whisky. When you’ve finished, eat the grape to enjoy a satisfying sweet crunch of the crisp fruit, steeped in the flavours of Winter Storm.
The Experiments Never Stop
Discover our next project
From one experiment to the next, we’ll always push the boundaries of the single malt.