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28th March 2023 |
Glenfiddich
are set to introduce the latest release
from their Grand Series into travel
retail shops, the Glenfiddich Grand
Yozakura 29 Year Old.
 Glenfiddich is
poised to introduce the latest release
from its ground-breaking Grand Series
collection. Grand Yozakura, the first
Single Malt Scotch Whisky to be finished
in rare ex-Awamori casks, will make its
travel retail debut in selected airport
locations in Europe and Asia from late
March, supported by a series of
high-profile experiential activations.
A limited-edition fusion celebrating the
finest flavours from Scotland and Japan,
Grand Yozakura is a 29 Year Old Whisky
matured at the Glenfiddich Distillery in
Dufftown. It is finished in oak casks
that previously matured Awamori – the
oldest distilled alcoholic spirit in
Japan – producing a finish unlike any
other. Awamori is made using long grain
indica rice, and is traditionally stored
in clay pots and matured in oak casks.
It is said that the technique for making
the spirit has not been altered in over
500 years. Only a small proportion of
Awamori is aged in oak casks, making
them exceptionally rare.
Grand Yozakura celebrates Hanami – the
renowned "cherry blossom festival",
where Japan celebrates the temporal
beauty of nature through the sakura. A
time for renewal and optimism, the
festival is best experienced illuminated
after dark, where it is known as the
Yozakura or ‘night sakura’. This
fleeting moment captures a time where
nature is honoured. In the same way,
this marriage of rare liquids, once
gone, will never be replicated, and
therefore presents a precious, transient
chance to experience a beautiful
collision of cultures and flavours.
The packaging of Grand Yozakura brings
this meeting of cultures to life with a
signature illustration, created by
Japanese artist June, who creates
visions incorporating Japanese culture
and landscapes. The whisky packaging
includes a bespoke topper and
traditional poem printed onto each
specially designed outer.
Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman,
commented: "We are always looking to
experiment with new finishes so when the
chance arose to acquire rare ex-Awamori
casks we saw an opportunity to push the
boundaries and experiment with this
highly unusual spirit. This is the first
time that Single Malt Scotch Whisky has
been finished in these rare casks. We
always learn something new when we lead
with innovation so taking a risk is
worth it, and in the case of Awamori we
trialled a very small number of casks at
a younger age first.
"Awamori is much like whisky, with a
diverse range of flavours. Since
embarking on this fusion, it’s been
fascinating to focus on the oak and how
it has been changed and adapted by
contact with another spirit. The six
month finish in ex-Awamori Casks
compliments the smooth Glenfiddich taste
profile, elevating the finish and
lifting the flavour to a new level,
accentuating the mouthfeel characters
and zingy herbal notes unlike any in the
series, or anything I have tasted
before."
Glenfiddich Global Brand Director
Claudia Falcone noted: "The Grand Series
underpins Glenfiddich’s spirit of
innovation and Grand Yozakura is no
exception. It is perhaps the most
ground-breaking expression to sit
alongside the series so far, whilst also
being the first limited edition release.
Bringing together two scarce components
accentuates the anticipation and sense
of occasion, paying homage to the
brand’s innovative nature when it comes
to creating dynamic whiskies of the
highest quality."
"We are pleased to once again be
partnering with key retailers to
showcase this latest addition to our
pioneering Grand Series collection
within travel retail – a vital channel
for the luxury spirits business," noted
Gwilym Cooke, Head of Brand Marketing
for GTR at WG&S. "In line with our
commitment to innovate this new whisky
offers a unique taste experience and
compelling story that will be hugely
appealing to both new and established
whisky drinkers."
Grand Yozakura is the latest addition to
the series, which includes Glenfiddich
Grand Cru, aged for 23 years in American
and European oak casks and then finessed
in French Cuvée oak casks; Glenfiddich
Gran Reserva, patiently mellowed for 21
years in European and American Oak casks
before a final flourish in Caribbean Rum
casks; Grande Couronne, a 26 year old
Scotch Whisky matured in American and
European oak casks finished for up to
two years in meticulously sourced French
Cognac casks; and Gran Cortes, a refined
Glenfiddich whisky aged for 22 years in
traditional Sherry oak before finishing
in very rare Palo Cortado Sherry casks.
If you have no plans to travel in the
near future you will find the current
Glenfiddich domestic whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop,
Master of Malt
and
Hard To Find Whisky
|
Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura 29 Year Old Review
|
Bottled at % ABV.
Producer's
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Zesty,
ripe fruits and caramelised almonds.
Lovely rich oak notes with hints of
cinnamon and a distinctive herbal zing.
Taste: Indulgent
layers of toasted oak, creamy vanilla
toffee and silky tannin. Sporadic bursts
of spice and sherbet lemons with crunchy
green apple and warming earthy tones.
Finish: Long
lasting oak.
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