A guide to gifting the perfect Glenfiddich this holiday season
Christmas is always a special time for everyone at Glenfiddich, for it was on Christmas Day 1887 that the very first drop of spirit fell from our Distillery’s copper stills.
The rest is history, of course.
This Christmas marks our 128th anniversary and we’re immensely proud of the fact we have remained family owned ever since William Grant nurtured his dream to make the “best dram in the valley”. Being family owned adds a special touch to each and every one of our whiskies and we have been creating expressions in the same time-honored traditions as our founder did all those years ago.
Of course the holiday season is a special time of year for many families across the world, not just ours. As Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich in Canada, it’s normally around this time of year that I’m frequently asked to recommend whisky gifts for all kinds of people. So, if you’re sharing gifts with your loved ones this year and are considering giving whisky, I hope this blog might help you make a choice you and your giftee will always remember.
Whether you’re new to the world of single malt or you’re already well accustomed to our range of expressions and you’re wondering how you should go about choosing the right expression for someone this holiday season, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky is an excellent place to start.
When I’m recommending a whisky for someone new to Scottish single malts, I always like to suggest our 15 Year Old Solera Reserve first. I think my fellow Ambassadors across the world would agree that not only is this one of their favorite expressions but it is also one that appeals to many different palates. Aged in a combination of bourbon, sherry and new oak casks, this whisky has notes of honey, raisin and spice - it’s a delicious dram to enjoy with a mince pie or similar festive treats.
Alternatively, our most famous expression, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, is always a great alternative with its fresh, subtle hints of vanilla and pear whilst our 18 Year Old is more robust with hints of baked apple and cinnamon.
All three make great gifts, fit to everyone’s taste and budget.
If you’re looking for something a little different this festive season, I can’t recommend our Glenfiddich 26 Year Old Excellence highly enough. This beautiful whisky, new to the Glenfiddich family, is aged for 26 years in ex-bourbon barrels to create a vibrant yet elegant expression perfect for that special person on your gift list.
Of course not all of you reading this will be staying at home for the holidays this year; should you have the pleasure of travelling this winter you’d be missing a trick by not watching out for some of our most interesting expressions on your way. We have a wonderful range of whiskies in many travel retail outlets across the globe. If you’re passing through Duty Free, look out for our Cask Collection and our Age of Discovery range. My personal favorites are the Glenfiddich 19 Year Old Red Wine Cask and of course the Glenfiddich Vintage Cask, which is a truly unique expression within our range due to its unusual hint of peat.
Whichever whisky you choose this year, I find the best drams are those enjoyed with great company. This year is particularly special for me, as I will be getting married on New Year’s Eve. I will most definitely be toasting my fiancé, along with my family and friends, with a dram of Glenfiddich 15 Year Old this Hogmanay.
Where and with whom will you be celebrating? You can let me know on Twitter.
Wishing each and every one of you the very best this holiday season.
Beth Havers
Glenfiddich Ambassador for Canada