A new series has been launched by Speyside distillery The Glenlivet, set to be exclusive to global travel retail. The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection will "marry original perspectives through travel experiences".
Chapter One in the series has been selectively finished in red wine casks, in a first for the brand. The release was made in collaboration with Red Hong Yi, a Malaysian-Chinese contemporary artist.
For the artwork used for Chapter One of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection, Red Hong Yi used traditional Chinese red pigments, reflected in the red hue of the red-wine-finished whisky.
The single malt Scotch whisky was matured in European and American oak, with a portion of the liquid then finished in charred American oak and European red wine casks.
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."
Tasting notes shared by the distillery highlight blueberries, caramelised pears, custard, pineapple, butterscotch, and spices.
The Glenlivet, which this year celebrates its 200th anniversary, recently released its oldest single malt to date: a 55-year-old whisky which will be the first of a new collection of progressively ageing single malt whiskies.
Chapter One of The Glenlivet Groundbreaker Collection will be released initially at Singapore Changi Airport at US$100 before expanding to select duty-free stores worldwide by the end of October 2024.