AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WHISKY LOVERS is released today by The Glenlivet. The iconic whisky brand is launching a new product range entitled ‘The Glenlivet Fusion Cask Series: Rum & Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection’. It promises to provide a unique taste experience; it uses a category-first technique that marries first-fill rum casks with American bourbon barrels to create one single, harmonious fusion cask finish. The release marks the beginning of The Glenlivet’s Fusion Cask series as well as this year’s bicentennial celebrations of 200 years of innovation and excellence from The Glenlivet.
Now owned by Chivas Brothers, the Glenlivet distillery has many claims to fame. Not the least of which is the fact that it is the oldest legal distillery in Scotland. In this, it’s 200th year, it continues to push boundaries. Today it remains committed to continuously setting new standards of excellence within the Single Malt category for the next 200 years. According to the company “The Glenlivet Fusion Cask Series answers an increasing demand for prestige spirit drinkers seeking flavour experimentation and unique taste experiences, whilst boldly embracing an unconventional process, demonstrating its commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. Both a first for Chivas Brothers and in the whisky category at large, this pioneering approach to cask craft imparts a distinct finish and unparalleled taste experience”.
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For the first in the series, The Glenlivet Rum & Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection has been selectively finished* in recrafted first fill rum and American bourbon casks to create a bespoke fusion cask. These hand-selected barrels have been dismantled and reassembled – with the ends of one barrel put together with the body of staves from another – by expert coopers, offering a flavour profile transformed by the fusion of influences from two distinct cask types. The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection delivers aromas of orange, vanilla custard, caramel, coconut and zest of lemon, notes of juicy apricot and peach, fresh apples, toffee-covered bananas and subtle cinnamon spice on the palate, and a sweet and smooth finish with enduring notes of orange.
The Glenlivet Cask Expert, Kevin Balmforth commented: “This category-first innovation continues our commitment and 200-year legacy of pushing boundaries in whisky. As a team of makers at The Glenlivet, we work closely with our partners at the cooperage to ensure the handmade casks are of the highest quality, and this intricate dismantling and reassembling process to create new bespoke casks ensures a distinctive and expertly-crafted finish”.
The new selection will initially be launched in the US and be available for purchase there this month (February 2024), priced from $99.99. All of which leaves advocates of the brand and lovers of whisky asking the much needed question? “How soon can we get it in the UK?” Adding to the drama the response from The Glenlivet is: “to be determined”. For whisky lovers here in Scotland it’s like saying there will be another Xmas Party… someday. The sooner the better!
*A portion of the whisky spends time in the referenced cask
