Glenfiddich @ Ultimate

A couple of years ago I was invited by Glenfiddich to pen an article about the Braemar Gathering.
No Gathering would be complete without an evening meal and a dram to round off the weekend and both athletes and journalists were treated to a meal at Mar Lodge on the Saturday night. The very best of Scottish produce and the very best of Scottish whisky led to the very best of Scottish conversation. As a succession of dishes arrived at the long table, ranging from locally caught Deeside Salmon to pan-fried Aberdeen Angus Beef, whisky specialist and Glenfiddich brand ambassador Ian Millar produced, as if by magic, a succession of unique malts. As the evening drew on, the 15 year olds gave way to the 20 year olds and in a magnificent gesture Ian poured a few drams of the rare Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. Created using whisky saved from broken casks that lay in warehouses collapsed under snow during January 2010, the Snow Phoenix is a poignant reminder of those heady days of a wild winter when the white stuff engulfed the Grant family Distillery at Dufftown. For my money though, the 38 year old Glenfiddich Ultimate hit the sweet spot. At 40% proof and bottled exclusively for the Chinese market it’s a snip at a mere £3,500 a bottle – that’s around £70 a nip! In a different life I might choose to invest in the golden nectar on a regular basis, subject of course to the advice of my financial adviser.
Location: Braemar, Ballater AB35, UK

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