When I survey the shelves of supermarkets and liquor stores in search of single malt whiskies, I cannot help but notice that there is always this very familiar label with the stag symbol and its extended antler. This very recognizable stag symbol label is the Glenfiddich single malt whisky founded in 1886 by William Grant in Dufftown, Scotland, in the glen (long narrow valley) of the River Fiddich – thus the shortened name Glenfiddich. Glenfiddich is also the world’s best selling single malt whisky brand.
Not so long ago I was invited to my first classroom style whisky seminar. This seminar was conducted by Australian Matthew Fergusson-Steward, William Grant & Son’s Southeast Asia Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich and a bonafide whisky expert. Even prior to working for one of the industry’s biggest companies, William Grant & Sons, Matthew has already exhibited his passion and expertise in whisky. Matthew was formerly the State Manager of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Western Australia, and he also formed his own company, Steward’s Whisky Consultancy when he moved to Asia and lived in Singapore. In Singapore, prior to joining William Grant & Sons, Matthew managed Auld Alliance (Scots for Old Alliance – referring to the alliance between France and Scotland from 1295-1560), a pioneering whisky bar, and Southeast Asia’s single biggest collection of whiskies, located at the Rendezvous Hotel Gallery in Bras Basah Road. It was not really surprising then to know that Matthew’s first born daughter is named `Islay’ – a peculiar first name, but is actually named after one of five whisky distilling regions (like wine regions) in Scotland whose `terroir’ is protected by law.
Whisky without the `e’
of Glenfiddich
The spelling of whisky or whiskey varies from which country the liquor comes from. The four most popular and largest producers are Scotland, America, Ireland and Japan. Scotland and Japan spell their whisky without the `e’, while both America (also known as bourbon), and Ireland spell their whiskey, with the `e’. Aside from the spelling there are other notable differences, like bourbons use 51 percent corn and the Irish make their whiskeys using triple distillation against the double distillation of Scotch, etc…. On the other hand, Japanese whiskies were exactly patterned after the Scotch, as I discovered too myself on my short trip to Kyoto when I visited Yamasaki Distillery.
Five Categories of Scotch Whiskies
As Matthew Fergusson-Steward eloquently explained in our seminar, there are basically five Scotch Whisky categories: they are 1) Blended Whisky – these are your typical commercial whiskies similar to the Johnny Walker Red and Black, the Chivas Regals, and the likes; around 90 percent of the scotch whisky production is in this category; 2) Single Malt Whisky – this is the hot category at the moment; less than 10 percent of total scotch whisky production is in this category; single malts have to be made from 100 percent malted barley, and are distilled from copper pots; 3) Single Grain Whisky – less than 1 percent of scotch whisky production; single grain from one distillery and using continuous distillation; 4) Blended Grain Whisky – supposedly to be the cheapest, but not being produced often – less than 1 percent of scotch whisky production; and 5) Blended Malt Whisky – a blended scotch made normally from three malts; less than 1 percent of scotch whisky production.
The Glenfiddich Tasting Experience
We capped our scotch whisky seminar with the highlight of the lecture – the actual tasting of single malt scotch whiskies.
• Glenfiddich 12 Year Old – the world’s best selling single malt scotch whisky; 85 percent ex-bourbon cask and 15 percent ex-sherry cask; `fruity, pear, orange peel, some vanilla on a smooth long finish’; retail price at Php1,600.00
• Glenfiddich 15 Year Old – this whisky has been matured in three types of oak cask: 70 percent ex-bourbon, 20 percent ex-sherry and 10 percent from brand new cask; `black olive, cinnamon, gingery, spicy, and with touch of sweetness at the end’; retail price at Php2,100.00
• Glenfiddich 18 Year Old – produced in small, individually numbered batches; 80 percent ex-bourbon and 20percent ex-sherry; rich dry fruit, woody, pie-crust, and fig-like finish’; retail price at Php3,500.00
Glenfiddich also comes in 21 Year old and 30 Year Old single malt whiskies. Glenfiddich whiskies are exclusively distributed locally by Meritus Prime Distribution Inc. with contact number (02)242-0635.
Congratulations Madrid Fusion Manila
The first staging of Madrid Fusion Manila over the weekend at the SMX Convention Center was an overwhelming success. And I mean first, as heard from the grapevines (a wine analogy…) that Madrid Fusion Manila will be an annual event till 2019. Congratulations to the Philippine Department of Tourism and the organizers for a job well done. I am also honored to be part of this historic fair that will forever redefine our country on our quest to be a new gastronomic hub in our region.
For comments, inquiries, wine event coverage, wine consultancy and other wine related concerns, please e-mail me at protegeinc@yahoo.com. I am a proud member of the Federation Internationale des Journalists et Ecrivains du Vin et des Spiritueux or FIJEV since 2010. You can also follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/sherwinlao.