Does it Get Any Better?

Whenever winter arrives in British Columbia, many turn to whiskey as the beverage of choice: American, Canadian, Irish, and in particular, Scotch.

With the current level of popularity that Scotch enjoys, it is hard to believe that the first commercially bottled single malt was exported to North America only in 1963!

The first arrival was from Glenfiddich, a family owned Speyside distillery, which boasts the number-one selling single malt (Glenfiddich Special Reserve), both in Canada and across the globe.

Glenfiddich means Valley of the Deer in Gaelic, and the facility is basically unchanged since 1886, when it was built by William Grant and sons.

From the beginning, Canadians couldnít get enough of Glenfiddich Special Reserve, and as palates became more discerning, it soon followed that Glenfiddich produce several older whiskies for the overseas market, employing different techniques and finishes.

The 15 year old Solera Reserve is created by distilling whisky, and allowing it to age in their granite warehouse.  After lying in the darkness for 15 years or more, the whiskies (some matured in European oak, American oak and some in Spanish oak sherry casks) are finally married inside a huge European oak Solera vat.  As the Solera vat is never allowed to be less than half full, it harbours a reservoir of extremely well-matured whisky which is fed into a small sherry cask for the final stages of marrying.

Glenfiddichís 18 year old Ancient Reserve owes its unique character and flavour to the skilful marrying of whiskies matured in Oloroso sherry casks with whiskies matured in traditional oak whisky casks.

Through the long yearsí maturation in wood, and the additional sherry content, this whisky acquires an added depth of flavour, sweetness and aroma.

Occasionally BC is lucky enough to get an allotment of the ever popular Glenfiddich Gran Reserva, a unique twenty-one year old single malt that spent an additional four months in barrels that once contained rum from the Caribbean which infuse the whisky with a rich toffee indulgence.  The incredible long oak aging, coupled with the natural sweetness from the rum make this single malt a rare pleasure.

Glenfiddich and its line of whisky can be found at restaurants and liquor stores across the globe, as well as participating in events such as the 5th annual Victoria Whisky Festival, January 23, 2010.