UNCOVER THE SECRET: CHIVAS BROTHERS RELEASES ITS LARGEST EVER SINGLE MALT COLLECTION

The Secret Speyside Collection is launched featuring fifteen rare Single Malts from sought-after distilleries

Chivas Brothers is today releasing its biggest Single Malt collection to date, with the launch of fifteen aged from four seldom-seen, yet highly sought-after Speyside, Scotland distilleries.

The Secret Speyside Collection is a carefully curated selection of 18-30 year old whiskies that herald from four of Speyside’s most elusive distilleries. Each has its own rich and unique history for Single Malt fans to discover, including the vanished distillery of Caperdonich, the pioneering , the landmark distillery, and the remote Braes of Glenlivet distillery.

The desirable fifteen-bottle collection consists of three rare Single Malts from each of Glen Keith, Longmorn and Braes of Glenlivet, together with three peated and three unpeated expressions from Caperdonich, which distilled its final Single Malt in 2002, before closing its doors and finally being taken down brick by brick in 2011.

The Secret Speyside Collection is the first of its kind from Pernod -owned Chivas Brothers and will offer Single Malt connoisseurs the chance to uncover, sample and collect some of the hidden malts at the heart of the iconic Speyside region that have rarely been made available in the past.

Alan Winchester, a Chivas Brothers Scotch icon with over 30 years of Speyside distilling experience, commented:

“With centuries of rich whisky heritage against a jaw-dropping Scottish landscape, Speyside is the treasure chest of Scotch and brimming with untold stories. Curating the Collection has been a labour of love for the Chivas Brothers team; its contents have been hand-selected to help shine a light on some seldom-seen distilleries, their rare malts, and unique histories. Any whisky connoisseur will find something new in this world-class selection, which demonstrates the breadth of flavour and character that Speyside distilleries can achieve.”

The Secret Speyside Collection will launch from July as a Global Travel Retail exclusive for one year, before rolling out into selected markets globally from summer 2020.

Uncover the distilleries of the Secret Speyside Collection

Caperdonich – A Vanished Distillery Once gone, there will never be another. This collection contains the only available Single Malts from this distillery, which was taken down brick by brick in 2011. The whiskies released from this ‘vanished distillery’ of Speyside offer a rare opportunity to discover and compare peated and unpeated expressions of the same age (21 and 25 year old), from the same distillery.

The unpeated spirit is full of ripe orchard fruits that give Caperdonich’s sweet single malt a complex body and long smooth finish. When gently peated, an untraditional process for a , a sophisticated smokiness adds an extra element and depth of flavour

There will be six whiskies released from Caperdonich, with half being peated whiskies and the other half unpeated. The peated selection includes an 18 year old (48% ABV), a 21 year old (48% ABV) and a cask strength 25 year old whisky. The unpeated whiskies are a 21 year old 48% ABV) 25 year old (48% ABV), and a cask strength 30 year old. The peated 25 year old and non-peated 30 year old will be released in October 2019.

Longmorn - The Pioneering Distillery Blending unique insights in technology and craft, Longmorn was designed by founder John Duff in 1894 to create a whisky of outstanding quality. Duff even built a railway station next to the distillery to facilitate supplies getting to the distillery and speed up the finished product getting into the hands of whisky lovers. One of Scotland’s best kept secrets, Longmorn has long been considered world class by distillers, blenders and connoisseurs, often referred to as ‘every distiller’s favourite apart from their own.’

The three whiskies from Longmorn in this collection are an 18 year old (48% ABV), 23 year old (48% ABV) and a cask strength 25 year old, with each bringing a more intense take on the soft, creamy toffee and rich flavour profile that is highly regarded by distillers and industry experts worldwide.

Glen Keith - The Landmark Distillery Glen Keith was the first Speyside distillery built in the 20th century. The distillery rose from the ruins of an old mill on the banks of the River Isla, famed for its pure water and leaping wild salmon. This collection marks the first official* age-statement release this century from the landmark distillery.

The three whiskies from Glen Keith in this collection are a 21 year old, 25 year old and a 28 year old (all 43% ABV). Each is exceptionally smooth as Glen Keith’s pot stills are taller than most, giving an extra ‘copper kiss’ to the single malt and resulting in a complex, intensely smooth example of the classic Speyside style, bursting with juicy summer fruit notes.

Braes of Glenlivet - The Remote Distillery This is the first official bottling* from one of the highest distilleries in Speyside. In years past, when the snow fell, it settled on the hills of Braes of Glenlivet first. The remote distillery is watched over by a lone keeper at night and is truly at the mercy of the uncompromising Scottish elements.

The three whiskies from Braes of Glenlivet in this collection are a 25 year old (48% ABV), 27 year old (48% ABV) and a cask strength 30 year old. Made using the purest water from the Preenie Well, 2 miles deep in the Braes hills, the resulting whisky is smooth, balanced and packed with tropical fruits.

*A bottling released to markets under this specific brand by Chivas Brothers

Tasting notes

Caperdonich

18 year old Peated (48% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels Smoky bonfire comes together with the classic sweet and fruity Speyside style. This rare and robust Single Malt is subtly layered with initial aromas of peat, followed by a taste of apple and brown sugar, gentle ginger and warming orange. RRP $130

21 year old Peated (48% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels This is a layered and complex malt: gentle peat and bonfire embers come together with warm cedar and mandarin orange. Long and smoky, the finish leaves a subtle taste of liquorice and herbal tea leaves. RRP $290

25 year old Peated (cask strength – TBC when bottled in September) Matured in oak hogsheads This smoky and fruity malt engulfs the senses: rich notes of peat smoke are brilliantly balanced by green apple and sweet pear, with bonfire aromas and a hint of salt leading into a long and smooth finish. RRP $550

21 year old Unpeated (48% ABV) Matured in 1st fill American Oak barrels

This fruity and sweet malt brings together zesty orange, poached pear and rich vanilla, with floral herbs for a long and smooth finish. RRP $250

25 year old Unpeated (48% ABV) Matured in first fill American Oak barrels This warming, rich malt combines complex flavours of juicy blackcurrant, sweet pear and creamy milk chocolate. A touch of cinnamon spice leads to a long and succulent finish. RRP $480

30y/o Unpeated (cask strength – TBC when bottled in September) Matured in first fill American Oak barrels Flavours of soft fruit and fresh pineapple meet sweet honey. This is the ultimate malt from the lost distillery: well-balanced with gentle, warming spices and an incredibly long, smooth finish. RRP $990

Longmorn

18 year old (48% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels and hogsheads Incredibly smooth with notes of mango and creamy toffee, complemented by flavours of ripe juicy pear and a touch of oak. The finish is incredibly sweet and long. RRP $100

23 year old (48% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels and hogsheads Incredibly sweet with creamy milk chocolate and fruity pear flavours mixed with lemon curd and a touch of ginger. The finish is voluptuous with a warming spice. RRP $290

25 year old (cask strength, 52.2% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels, hogsheads and butts Incredibly sweet with a touch of cinnamon followed by notes of red apple, mandarin orange and rich sultanas. Dry in character, the finish is long and smooth. RRP $450

Glen Keith

21 year old (43% ABV) Specially Selected Oak barrels and butts A perfect balance of fruit and sweetness. Soft peach and tropical pineapple, with a toasted almond finish. RRP $180

25 year old (43% ABV) Matured in 1st fill American Oak barrels A perfect balance of sweetness and mellow spice. Orange and ginger marmalade with tangy gooseberry jam and vanilla custard. RRP $380

28 year old (43% ABV) Matured in 1st fill American Oak barrels A perfect balance of sweet fruit and soft spice. Sweet orange, apricot and vanilla fudge with a touch of homemade gingerbread. RRP $500

Braes of Glenlivet

25 year old (48% ABV) Matured in 1st fill American Oak barrels Sweet notes on the nose with aromas of orange marmalade and ripe melon. Fruity flavours on the palate with apricot intermingled with sweet coconut and complemented by a long, spicy dry finish. RRP $400

27 year old (48% ABV) Matured in 1st fill American Oak barrels Intense fruity notes on the nose with aromas of red apple and cinnamon. Sweet and creamy on the palate with hints of ripe banana and butterscotch leading to a long and velvety finish. RRP $450

30 year old (cask strength, 50.3% ABV) Matured in American Oak barrels and hogsheads Tropical notes on the nose with aromas of mango and root ginger. Fruity flavours intensifying on the palate with juicy orange, blackberry jam and marzipan coming through, resulting in a long-lasting, sweet finish. RRP $600

Chivas Brothers’ largest Single Malt Collection to date, the Secret Speyside Collection is a range of fifteen single malt Scotch whiskies, aged from 18 to 30 years old, from four of Speyside’s most elusive distilleries. Each has its own rich and unique history for Single Malt fans to discover, including the vanished distillery of Caperdonich, the pioneering Longmorn distillery, the landmark Glen Keith distillery, and the remote Braes of Glenlivet distillery. The Secret Speyside Collection launched in June 2019 as a Global Travel Retail exclusive for one

year, before rolling out into selected markets globally from summer 2020. Discover more at https://www.secret-speyside.com/