The Glenlivet, Chivas Brothers’ iconic Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, has launched a new limited edition whisky, exclusively for travellers. Chapter One of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection marks the first time The Glenlivet has selectively finished whisky in red wine casks.
Chapter One of the new collection was crafted in collaboration with trailblazing Malaysian-Chinese contemporary artist Red Hong Yi. She cites both her extraordinary travels and inspiration taken from meaningful places around the world, from Borneo to Scotland, as the influence behind her unique style.
Renowned as ‘the artist who paints without a brush’, Hong Yi’s unconventional methods include using fire to char parchment to paint using traditional red Chinese pigments – the technique used to create the artwork housing Chapter One of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection.
Inside the bottle, the single malt Scotch whisky was carefully matured in specially selected European and American Oak casks. The Glenlivet Cask Master Kevin Balmforth then oversaw the finishing of a portion of the whisky in charred American Oak and European Red Wine Casks.
This innovative choice of finish delivers a subtle red-amber hue in honour of Red Hong Yi’s original artistry and her favourite colour – which gave rise to her moniker, Red. Notes of creamy toffee and sweet vanilla, which intertwine with layers of pear, red berry compote and dried fruits, bring an impressive depth of flavour to the final taste profile.
Kevin Balmforth, The Glenlivet Cask Master, said:
“As part of a passionate team of makers at The Glenlivet, collaborating with other creatives who are pushing boundaries in their respective fields is always exhilarating. This original new collection continues our commitment to – and 200-year legacy of – drawing on unusual and sometimes unexpected sources to continuously innovate within single malts.”
Future chapters of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection will continue to marry original perspectives collected through travel experiences with The Glenlivet’s unwavering excellence in Scotch craftsmanship, celebrating artists who share the single malt’s ambition to set new standards in their own fields.
Chapter One of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection is now exclusively available at Singapore Changi Airport at RRP $100 USD, before becoming available across selected duty free stores worldwide by end-October. For more information, visit theglenlivet.com or follow @theglenlivet.
