Pernod Ricard-owned whisky brand The Glenlivet has unveiled Vintage 1964 of The Winchester
Collection, a rare and prestigious collection of 50yo single malt whiskies,
with just 100 bottles of this vintage produced. Of these 100 bottles, eight are
available to purchase in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore airports throughout
December and January.
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| The Glenlivet's Vintage 1964 from The Winchester Collection |
The first bottle of Vintage 1964 from The Winchester
Collection was launched at London department store Harrods in October, with
bottle number eight the first to be made available in Asia travel retail, at
the DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits event which was held at the historic Black
and White House in Singapore on the November 8. Number eight is a symbol of
wealth and fortune in Chinese culture, making the release particularly
significant.
The Winchester Collection, the world’s first series of 50yo
single malts, has been crafted by The Glenlivet Master Distillers and is expected
to become one of the most sought-after whisky collections. Vintage 1964 was created
when decorated war hero, Captain Bill Smith-Grant – the last descendant of The
Glenlivet distillery’s founder, George Smith – laid down this whisky in 1964.
It is under the care and guidance of current Master Distiller, Alan Winchester,
that Vintage 1964 has been deemed ready to be enjoyed by connoisseurs.
Hand-crafted presentation
Every element of the presentation is hand-crafted by
artisans from the British Isles, from hand-blown glass to the inclusion of
precious materials. Acclaimed Scottish glass artists Nichola
Burns and Brodie Nairn (GLASSTORM) created a decanter inspired by The
Glenlivet’s history. The jewel-like stopper was designed by silversmith Richard Fox, whose past commissions have included Formula
One and Rolls-Royce. The design combines precious materials such as rose gold,
and is crowned with a Cairngorm Stone, often known as The Whisky Stone as a
result of its distinctive colouring. The presentation cabinet was designed by award-winning
furniture maker John Galvin, who applied traditional cabinet-making techniques
to a contemporary design, resulting in a bespoke piece.
The artisanal bottles are exhibited in elegant customised
displays in Taiwan Taoyuan airport’s T2 departures store, the prestige area
display at Singapore Changi airport T1 and both the departures and arrivals
stores at Hong Kong International T1.
An undisclosed number of further releases from The
Winchester Collection will then follow, with Vintage 1966 confirmed to be next
in line.
Tasting notes
The whisky is aged in a cask made of American oak
seasoned with bourbon, with ripe pears, oranges and black cherries creating an
intriguing flavour, while smooth, creamy toffee notes give a rich, velvety
texture. In the background are hints of caramelised sugar.
“We are very excited to launch a collection as
significant as The Winchester Collection in Asia travel retail; it’s a tribute
to the heritage and craftsmanship of The Glenlivet distillery since 1824,” said
Kim Tse, The Glenlivet brand manager at Pernod Ricard Asia Travel Retail. “We are also thrilled to have secured such a sought-after
bottle number for Asia travel retail, with bottle number eight symbolising
wealth and fortune in Chinese culture and perfectly supporting the launch of
this prestigious range. Having eight bottles available for Asia travel retail
also highlights the potential of the region as an increasingly important
channel for luxury products.”
