An Exploration of "The Cooper's Cask" from Glenfiddich
Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to partner with William Grant & Sons to host the exclusive launch of “The Cooper’s Cask”, a limited-edition whisky produced to raise funds to provide long-term support for the people of Ukraine.
This special edition will be auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer from 5 - 10 May 2022, with all proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
A unique micro-vatting of just 460 bottles, offered directly from the distillery, this presents an unrivalled opportunity for whisky enthusiasts and Glenfiddich collectors to explore the results from a rare experimentation undertaken by this iconic Speyside distillery.
Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland
Glenfiddich 2009 12 Year Old “The Cooper’s Cask”
Created by Malt Master Brian Kinsman, the story of “The Cooper’s Cask” is one of experimentation and creative craftsmanship. Distilled at the Glenfiddich distillery in December 2009, this intriguing whisky has undergone a unique maturation in three hand-crafted barrels coopered by Ian MacDonald, former Head Cooper at Glenfiddich.
Ian took it upon himself to create oak barrels comprising of staves from three varieties of American oak: virgin American oak, ex-bourbon oak and traditional refill American oak. Following 12 years of maturation, a micro-vatting of the three exceptional casks was created and the results have now been revealed in this one-off release of just 460 bottles. Bottled at cask strength, individually numbered, and signed by Malt Master Brian Kinsman, this distinctive whisky is truly one of a kind.
On the palate it is rich and intense, with notes of crystallised ginger and toasted pecans.
It’s a wonderfully well integrated whisky with each variety of oak stave adding to the liquid’s unique flavour profile, creating a great deal of complexity.
Struan Grant Ralph, Global Ambassador for Glenfiddich
Ian McDonald in the cooperage at Glenfiddich
The Art of Coopering at Glenfiddich
It is often thought that crafting a quality cask is an essential component to creating a quality whisky, a philosophy that Glenfiddich embody wholeheartedly. ‘Coopering’ is the art of building and repairing oak casks, a practice that Glenfiddich have mastered with around 126 casks tended on-site each day.
As one of the few remaining distilleries in the world with an onsite cooperage, Glenfiddich have precise control over cask quality and, importantly, possess the freedom to experiment. Taking an innovative approach to whisky maturation, they are known to experiment with different cask types, wood varietals and finishing. Former Head Cooper, Ian McDonald, has been a member of the Glenfiddich family for over 53 years and has been integral to the distillery’s progressive approach to coopering and maturation. Barrels remain hand-crafted to this day with little use of modern technology, a skill that takes decades to master.
An example of Ian’s experimentation has been revealed in the release of “The Cooper’s Cask”. Crafted using staves of virgin American oak, ex-bourbon oak and traditional refill American oak, Ian’s aim was to discover how each individual oak variety, once brought together, would influence the final flavour profile of the maturing whisky. The answer to this mystery lies within this unique limited edition.
Struan Grant Ralph and Mark Thomson at a Spirit of Speyside event
Spirit of Speyside Festival
First launched in 1999, the Spirit of Speyside Festival’s annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has developed into one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world. The much-anticipated event within the annual whisky-calendar typically features over 700 whisky-inspired events, with the major distillers and community groups in the region getting involved.
Now in its 23rd year, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is attended by visitors from all across the globe. Glenfiddich has a long history of producing an exclusive annual bottling to honour the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, with these bottlings now highly sought after by the whisky community.
Glenfiddich have produced an exclusive edition of their 2022 Spirit of Speyside release, “The Cooper’s Cask”, which is limited to just 460 remarkable bottles. This whisky has been exclusively produced to raise funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee and their invaluable efforts in helping Ukrainian citizens and refugees on their long road to recovery.
Read more about Glenfiddich in our Everything You Need To Know About Glenfiddich article. Whisky Auctioneer regularly welcomes rare and collectible Glenfiddich expressions in our monthly auctions. Browse all past and present Glenfiddich lots or contact us if you are interested in selling a bottle of Glenfiddich.
