Tasting and enjoying the Single Malts
I sampled a couple of the new Single Malts, namely the Glen Keith 21 Year Old, and the Caperdonich 21 year old Unpeated, a particular favourite (I have never been a fan of peated whiskies). I wish I had had the chance to try the other 11 whiskies on display, but this will have to wait for another occasion. Before I left the event, I put the following questions to Alan Winchester, who has been involved with Chivas Brothers since 1979.
LM: What was your involvement in the new Secret Speyside Collection?
AW: I was the curator of the Secret Speyside Collection and I have been working on it for quite a while. My knowledge has been tapped for the whisky production methods, and also for some of the more historic points. Up until October 2018, I was in charge of Pernod Ricard’s malt production, and that’s been my influence over the years. The idea with the new range was to show the breadth of the secrets.
AW: Whisky is a way of life for me. I still enjoy reading about it and travelling the hills looking for new things.
LM: What are you working on at the moment?
AW: I’ve just finished working on the Glenlivet 50 Year Old Winchester Collection, and we are now going forward with the Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve.
LM: Do you travel quite a lot?
AW: I’ve started travelling a bit more and I’ve just got back from Japan. I’ve never been there before. They are very passionate whisky drinkers. Then I’m off to America and China which are big markets for whisky.
LM: Which brands do you spend most of your time on?
AW: Most of my time is spent on The Glenlivet, which comes with my role as Master Distiller. However, the Secret Speyside Collection is something that I was involved in for quite a few years, and from the very beginning.
Read our other interview with Alan Winchester here.
The Secret Speyside Collection – Where and How?
The Secret Speyside Collection is available as a Global Travel Retail exclusive for one year (including at the Dubai and Shanghai Airports), before being rolled out into selected markets globally from summer 2020. The Single Malts are priced from $130 to $990.
View pictures from the Secret Speyside Collection launch on the Luxurious Magazine Instagram page. For more information on the Secret Speyside Collection, visit www.chivasbrothers.com.