I've always been a big fan of Aston Martin's iconic green livery - it's in fact such a big part of the Aston Martin essence that its got its own name, the Aston Martin Racing Green, which itself has a long and intertwined history with British motor racing.

In the old days, various teams would represent their respective countries, and much as it is in say the Olympics, each team would don a colour that represented their country - blue for France, red for Italy, white for Germany, yellow for Belgium, white with white stripes for the USA, and of course, green for Britain. And so it was in the 1922 French Grand Prix that Aston Martin would debut its first green livery. Over time, it's of course taken on various shades, and was even called Almond Green at one point. Ultimately it was in 1999, as Aston Martin celebrated its 40th Anniversary of winning the legendary 24 Hour endurance race that is Le Mans, that the team officially etched in stone what we know today as the Aston Martin Racing Green.

And so when it was announced that Aston Martin F1 was going to partner with the well established Glenfiddich Distillery, and that for the occasion - well, two occasions given that a 16 Year Old expression and a 19 Year Old expression was to be debuted as part of the multi-year partnership - the iconic Scotch single malt whisky would don the glorious Aston Martin Racing Green, well you can bet I was stoked! That deep amber whisky contrasted against those emerald green robes - it's a sight to behold!

Now something has to be said about how it is that as of late, worlds seem to have collided increasingly so as highly regarded brands from one category have begun to converge into the realms of highly regarded brands of another category - two great brands, maybe three, all hailing from vastly different worlds. And at the same time it makes sense doesn't it - no one lives in isolation. A lifestyle is composed of an individual's curation of various articles, and by extension, various brands. So why should it be that a brand should merely exist in its own lane so to speak, when it clearly is anything but the reality. And so when two brands come together, suddenly it becomes a world, one with depth, complexity and personality, yet at the same time reflecting life as it really is. It starts to represent the person and what underpins their identity, as is reflected in their selection and choices. Partnerships are of course nothing new, but brands have increasingly recognised this and taken advantage of it, and truthfully, it's a welcome change of pace that I've particularly enjoyed. Of course, it helps when it's a partnership between two brands that one is already fond of in their own spaces.

So what does it say about me, that I really liked this Glenfiddich Aston Martin F1 Scotch? At the very least, it should say that I appreciate nice things. That said, the official statement does read more along the lines of two icons bonded over their timeless heritage and shared dedication to the pursuit of quality, innovation and a longstanding tradition of excellence.

Malt Master Brian Kinsman who created the expression. They've even brought down a life-sized Aston Martin F1 racing car to Changi Airport! 

But let's get into the details of the whisky!

The partnership will see two Scotch single malts launched - the first is a 16 Year Old that's aged in American oak wine casks, new American barrels and second-fill Bourbon casks; and the second is a 19 Year Old that's aged in American and European oak casks, with also a unique inclusion of Montilla wine casks.

Today we're going to try the Glenfiddich Aston Martin F1 19 Year Old, that's also a Global Travel Retail exclusive, and so we let's get into those unusual Montilla wine casks.

Montilla, or Montilla-Moriles, refers to the Spanish designation (or DOP as it is called) for the wines that are made to the specific regional style of the southern part of the province of Córdoba in Spain's Andalusia. Here in southern Spain, that is closer to the Alboran Sea which is part of the larger Mediterranean Sea, it is the historic home of the famed Pedro Ximenez grape that is best known in the whisky world for its use in making Sherry. Yet in Montilla, a sweet dessert wine is made instead. Using similar techniques to Sherry-making, the wines are allowed to develop a layer of flor, and it is also aged in a Solera system of stacking varying ages of wines that are then systematically married by way of topping up barrels of older wines with younger wines. And whilst it sounds very much like Sherry, the key difference here is that unlike Sherry, Montilla wines are not typically fortified, meaning to say distilled brandy is not added to the wines. Consequently, Montilla wines tend to be more fruit forward and richer in texture, with less dryness and more plush softness.

With all that said, let's get to tasting!

Whisky Review: Glenfiddich Aston Martin F1 19 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% ABV

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep Gold / Amber

Aroma: It opens honeyed and heady, luscious with this fruit and floral richness of red apples, dried apples, pears and cherries, garnished with bouquets of honeysuckle and apple blossoms, and just a tough of zing of green apple peels. It's giving a sort of chewiness of beeswax, marzipan and nougat, almost alittle sweet, along with a depth of mustiness of barrels in a warehouse. Underneath these brighter tones is a darker and richer layer of stewed prunes, dried plums, with alittle bit of that musty rancio of sacks of sundried fruits. It has a naturalistic vibrance of fruit orchards yet the textural chewiness, and layers of brighter florals atop that base of sweet and concentrated wine.

Taste: Medium-plus bodied here, it's syrupy and rounded, coming in the form of a body of lush honeyed richness, that carries with it all those orchard fruitiness of dried apples, apple blossoms, pears, and as it follows through, it begins to deepen with the rancio of sundried plums and persimmons, thoroughly smooth, creamy and velvety. It stays honeyed and fruity as more white florals come through, still with that maltose candy chewiness, and also a little bit of a chocolate swirl. It's fruit-driven and rich, with again this balance of brighter and deeper tones.

Finish: It gains vibrance into the finish, more chocolatey here, with also that nuttiness of barley malt, hazelnut praline, stewed plums and concentrated dessert wines, given this depth from that mustiness of sundried fruits, and also this gentle grainy oakiness. It's plush through the finish, receding gently with a light bit of tannin to balance. Really rich and seamless in texture, with apple blossoms, honey and beeswax lingering on gently through a long finish, sprinkled in with some black peppercorn.

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My Thoughts

It's got great presence, with a fuller and richer body that balances between brighter and deeper, darker tones, that altogether makes for a really complete experience. It stands on its own and feels like a great complement to a long conversation or just a moment of alone time - it's the sort of whisky that's really satisfying in its textural richness and sweet and chewy waxiness, yet with flavours that are delightfully elegant yet at the same time don't distract or demand too much attention. It's understated in its complexity, which I find more subtle when put together with those vibrant, singing fruitiness and florals that takes you through a fruit orchard only to be backed up by chunks of chocolate and stewed plum pie. It's really compelling and attractive in aromas, and follows through with this luscious body that recedes in a seamless and long finish. 

Nevertheless what really impressed me most was that from a technical standpoint, the balance between Glenfiddich's fruity, floral and honeyed signature, and the heavier, richness of the Montilla wine casks was assembled really harmoniously, with both elements coming together really nicely, and neither overpowering the other. You get to feel all of that Glenfiddich character come through - the sort that's eked out after a long 19 years of ageing - that's then bolstered and complemented by that Montilla wine richness and concentration. It's working beautifully! 

Kanpai!

@111hotpot