Amidst a world laden with brand partnerships and collaborations, a team-up of Scotch whisky and luxury automobiles is still one of the most peculiar, if not most intriguing. However, when you combine premium products with nearly 250 years of total history, you can pretty much do whatever you want.
With the Las Vegas Gran Prix on the horizon, Aston Martin’s Formula One Team and Glenfiddich have announced they are collaborating on a very, very old single malt whisky.
65 Years in the Making
In 1959, Aston Martin made its debut on the F1 circuit and surprised everyone by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year. To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the event, it tapped the iconic Scotch distillery Glenfiddich for a seriously vintage whisky bottling.
But according to both brands, this is just the inaugural release of a lasting partnership. The press release states that, “Starting in 2025, this exclusive alliance will redefine exceptional experiences, creating memorable moments that reach far beyond the racetrack.” While it’s unclear what that means as of yet, we shall keep our ear to the ground for any updates.
But What About the Whisky Itself?
As for this single malt, we’ve gotten a glimpse of the bottle but not a ton of information. However, we do know that it was culled from a stock of whisky distilled in 1959 and, judging by the bottle text, has been aged for 65 years. We also know that it came from a rare sherry cask and “offers unparalleled depth and complexity.” One can only imagine what that means exactly, but luckily Glenfiddich offers some tasting notes as well:
The nose is said to display “rich oak, aged leather, tannin, beeswax, and the unmistakable aroma of an earthen floor dunnage warehouse.” While I’m all for smelling earthen floor dunnage, I’m particularly interested in what the palate has to offer: oaky, spicy notes, giving off hints of “cloves, dates, walnuts, Christmas pudding, and dark chocolate.”
This isn’t Aston Martin’s first time teaming up with a Scotch brand. It’s had a handful of viral hits the past few years with Islay distillery Bowmore. And while Glenfiddich is about 100 years younger than its whiskey-making brethren, it’s still got a heritage worth respecting.
This also isn’t Glenfiddich’s oldest whisky, with some dating from earlier in the ‘50s, nor is it the distillery’s first 1959 expression, with Private Vintages floating around the internet in the several-thousand-dollar range.
Spec Sheet
Age: 65 years
ABV: Unspecified
Nose: Rich Oak, aged leather, tannin, beeswax, and the unmistakable aroma of an
earthen floor dunnage warehouse
Palate: Oaky, spicy, cloves, dates, walnuts, Christmas pudding, and dark chocolate
Release Date: TBA
Pricing & Availability
In terms of availability, the press release hints that this Glenfiddich x Aston Martin 1959 Single Malt will be a one-off bottling “released at some point during the partnership.” This could mean a charity auction or something of the sort. Keep an eye on both brands’ websites for more information in the coming months.
Recap
Aston Martin F1 Team x Glenfiddich 1959 Whisky
Aston Martin’s F1 Team and Scotch distillery Glenfiddich have announced a partnership that launches with a single malt whisky from 1959 –– the year the British marque debuted in F1.
