Glenfiddich

THE relentless PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Celebrating 50 Years of Graff Butterfly 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Graff Butterfly – an iconic, endlessly evolving silhouette synonymous with the House of Graff. Since the very first iteration of Graff’s Butterfly in 1975, this remarkable motif has continued to metamorphose

ENDLESS EVOLUTION

In honour of this milestone, Graff has unveiled magnificent new Butterfly creations, with every Butterfly designed and crafted in such a way that their wings are held aloft in mid-flight, a fleeting moment from the natural world, captured for eternity in diamonds.

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Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire for which renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire for which Graff is renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire for which Graff is renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire for which Graff is renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire. is renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life,ewellery savoir-faire for which Graff is renowned. Within every creation, each diamond butterfly wing is subtly angled to bring the jewels to life, showcasing the intricacy and high jewellery savoir-faire for which Graff is renowned.

The vibrant, electric atmosphere of the racetrack isn’t something you immediately associate with the slow, contemplative nature of single malt Scotch whisky. Racing is about speed, split-second decisions and high stakes. Whisky takes time and patience as it slowly matures in oak casks over decades. But Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ Team have forged a distinguished partnership. Both are great British institutions, built with the same values. They share a passion for science, precision, craftsmanship, innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Yet what truly sets them apart is the human element, the instinctive feel of a malt master who knows when a whisky is ready, and a driver’s feel and intuition as they make their split-second decisions behind the wheel. This blend of rigour and creativity, of measured science and bold artistry, drives both brands forward and keeps them at the forefront of their respective worlds. The two iconic British brands announced their multi-year partnership during the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2024, and now the duo are celebrating their special relationship with the launch of Glenfiddich’s limited-edition 16-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, created to embody these values of precision and craftsmanship from the very first sip.

Becky Paskin meets Glenfiddich’s malt master Brian Kinsman to celebrate the release of its limited-edition 16-year-old Single Malt and discovers the story behind its distinguished partnership with the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team

‘With every creation each diamond butterfly wing is aligned bring jewels life’

Fernando alonso

Kinsman may be the captain of Glenfiddich’s ship, but just like the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team with its various engineering, trackside operations and factory roles, the brand’s success lies in the hands of more than just the driver. At least eight individuals with a combined experience of 170 years have had a direct hand in crafting Glenfiddich’s latest edition. They have overseen every step, from fermentation and distillation to coopering and cask management as the whisky matures in Glenfiddich’s warehouses, through to blending and finally bottling. “That’s the beauty of everything we do; there is such an end-to-end team, and long-serving employees are very common here,” Kinsman explains. “I’ve known them all for decades; I know their families. People really care about their work – they go way beyond just doing their role and actually become part of Glenfiddich.”

two brands in synergy

“In the first year of our partnership with Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, our goal was to clearly establish the connection between the two iconic brands,’’ says Jonathan Cornthwaite, global head of innovation and design. “The design of limited-edition Glenfiddich 16 Year Old was inspired by the most recognisable elements from both sides. From Glenfiddich, we incorporated our distinctive three-sided bottle and the rounded triangle packaging, representing the three pillars of whisky making: air, water and barley. From Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, we drew on the vibrant colour palette made famous by the cars of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. “As this multi-year partnership evolves, we will continue exploring new ways to celebrate the shared values that unite our brands.”

‘With every creation each diamond butterfly wing is aligned bring jewels life’

Fernando alonso

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Building on heritage and craft

Find the limited-edition Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky at selected Waitrose stores and online. Skilfully crafted. Enjoy responsibly. Never Drink and Drive. #neverdrinkanddrive

Kinsman on F1 and a very special photoshoot

“I was a huge F1 fan back in the 80s and 90s but I’d never been to a race before. Being trackside is just a totally different experience, it’s so visceral, the noise and tension of the race. It's just an amazing machine to watch. “Launching Glenfiddich 1959 to press and influencers on the rooftop of Harrods with a Formula One car was something I could never have predicted in my wildest dreams. The car went up in pieces in the lift and was reassembled on the roof. A lot of people thought it was photoshopped.”

precision and intuition in equal measure

Engineering in any sense requires time, patience and painstaking attention to detail. Whether it’s testing a car on the track for the first time or crafting the perfect single malt, years of meticulous planning and design culminates in a single moment. In creating the new Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Kinsman has tapped into the fine balance between engineering and craftsmanship to create a single malt inspired by American oak. Matured in three types of cask – first-fill bourbon barrels, American oak wine casks and new American oak casks – the resulting whisky has vibrant notes of sweet red berries, juicy fruit, spicy ginger and Chantilly cream. “We wanted this to be all about American oak, but with more depth,” Kinsman says. “We could have just used 100 per cent first-fill bourbon casks and it would have been beautiful, but it wouldn't have the complexity.” Leaning on data and insight gleaned from years of scientific analysis, Kinsman selected casks that would deliver a sweet, fruity flavour profile. First-fill Bourbon casks were chosen for their rounded vanilla profile, active wine casks for their bright, red berry fruitiness and new oak casks for a spicy ginger and intense vanilla hit. “So altogether you've got spice, fresh fruit and berries overlaid on that vanilla backbone, and all of this is coming from American oak,” Kinsman beams. Thanks to Glenfiddich’s distillery team, Kinsman is armed with an archive of data with which to build this exceptional whisky. Ultimately though, the secret to perfecting a whisky is down to intuition, an alchemical skill honed over decades of nosing and tasting samples. “Whisky-making is art supported by science,” he says. “Science gives us a lot of data that helps us make decisions, but fundamentally, whether or not something is going to work comes down to that gut feeling,” he says.

Tasting notes Glenfiddich 16-year-Old Single malt scotch whisky

Nose Rich and beautifully sweet. Biscuity cheesecake base, maple syrup, caramelised ginger, and subtle toasted oak notes. Taste Indulgent, confectionery sweet with a silky, syrupy mouthfeel. Fresh fruit salad and Chantilly cream. Finish Super smooth with a sustained sweetness.

honouring tradition, embracing innovation

toasting the future

Both Glenfiddich and the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team speak passionately about the natural fit between the two brands, especially where precision, heritage and craftsmanship are concerned. And the Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky promises to be the start of several exciting collaborations over the coming years. It’s a partnership that almost feels fated, as if the stars have aligned to bring the best out of both these iconic brands. Mindful of tradition but driven by innovation, Glenfiddich is a pioneer in establishing new approaches that have redefined the world of whisky making. It was Glenfiddich, after all, that introduced the single malt to the world beyond Scotland after its launch in 1961. It was Glenfiddich that pioneered the solera vat to draw out the complexity and intensity of its whisky’s flavours. And with its new partnership with the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, that same commitment to artistry and innovation is set to inspire remarkable collaborations for the future.

Tasting notes

Nose Rich and beautifully sweet. Biscuity cheesecake base, maple syrup, caramelised ginger and subtle toasted oak notes. Taste Indulgent, confectionery sweet with a silky, syrupy mouthfeel. Fresh fruit salad and Chantilly cream. Finish Super smooth with a sustained sweetness.

Glenfiddich 16-year-Old Single malt scotch whisky

Likewise at the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, as team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa explains: “People see the two drivers on the track, but behind them are a team of nearly a thousand at the AMR Technology Campus. There are highly skilled, talented people working across every aspect of the car and business, all of whom are passionate about the work they are doing. It’s a huge operation, and each person has a vital role to play in the success of a team.” The partnership between Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ Team doesn’t just celebrate precision or performance; it’s the coming together of two timeless icons, united by a belief that instinct and innovation, when guided by people, can create something truly exceptional.

*The Glenfiddich range has received more awards since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky in two of the world’s most prestigious competitions, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and the International Spirits Challenge.

Glenfiddich 16-year-Old Single malt scotch whisky

“I’ve been with the company for 28 years and this is by far the most exciting thing the brand has done,” says Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s malt master. “It’s such a natural partnership because there are so many parallels.” A scientist by training, Kinsman became Glenfiddich’s sixth malt master in December 2009, and is responsible for fulfilling William Grant’s ambition of creating ‘the best dram in the valley’. “There’s been a verbal instruction on how Glenfiddich is made that literally goes unbroken back to William Grant, and I think that's pretty unique,” he says. “I have to make sure that I now do that with whoever follows me.” Kinsman studied chemistry at the University of St Andrews and after a brief segue into dentistry joined Glenfiddich’s lab team in 1997 as a chemical analyst. Back then he would analyse spirit samples from the stills and casks, later honing his sensory skills and whisky-making craft under the tutelage of former malt master David Stewart. Since it was founded by William Grant in 1887, Glenfiddich has been guided by a pursuit for perfection and innovation – continuously pushing boundaries to set new standards. With skills passed down through generations the team’s craftsmanship ensures consistency in every single bottle. Its new state-of-the-art stillhouse opened in 2022 and by the end of this year the distillery will house 50 copper pot stills, making it one of the largest single malt Scotch whisky producers in Scotland. While the distillation process itself is highly technical, it’s the distillery team’s craftsmanship, honed over years of experience, that ensures every single bottle remains consistently perfect. The brand has created a legacy that has led to Glenfiddich being the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky*. Similarly, the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team recently opened its AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone, which is a highly technical facility featuring a wind tunnel, simulator and manufacturing centre. Each car is a work of art, handcrafted by a team of highly skilled professionals. Innovation is at the heart of each and every area of the business, from design and simulation to manufacturing processes and testing. It allows the team to push boundaries and ultimately improve performance across the board. Ben Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, explains: “Like Glenfiddich, Aston Martin has a rich heritage and legacy, building on 100-plus years of greatness. The Aston Martin Formula One™ Team is proud to carry that history forward. Technology is at the core of everything we do; it’s paramount to success. But it's redundant without the hands of a highly experienced team to refine and craft the car to bring it to life, resulting in a car crafted with precision and passion and powered by state-of-the-art innovation." Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ Team know innovation is guided by precision but defined by instinct. It’s this distinguished connection – between data and human intuition – that inspired Glenfiddich to craft this exquisite limited-edition 16 year old release.

‘Technology is at the core of everything we do but it’s redundant without refinement and craft by the hands of a highly experienced team’

Ben Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Aston Martin Formula One™ Team

Similarly, the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team recently opened its AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone, which is a highly technical facility featuring a wind tunnel, simulator and manufacturing centre. Each car is a work of art, handcrafted by a team of highly skilled professionals. Innovation is at the heart of each and every area of the business, from design and simulation to manufacturing processes and testing. It allows the team to push boundaries and ultimately improve performance across the board. Ben Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Aston Martin Formula One™ Team, explains: “Like Glenfiddich, Aston Martin has a rich heritage and legacy, building on 100-plus years of greatness. The Aston Martin Formula One™ Team is proud to carry that history forward. Technology is at the core of everything we do; it’s paramount to success. But it's redundant without the hands of a highly experienced team to refine and craft the car to bring it to life, resulting in a car crafted with precision and passion and powered by state-of-the-art innovation." Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ Team know innovation is guided by precision but defined by instinct. It’s this distinguished connection – between data and human intuition – that inspired Glenfiddich to craft this exquisite limited-edition 16 year old release.

‘You've got spice, fresh fruit and berries overlaid with a vanilla backbone’

Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich malt master

‘Technology is at the core of everything we do but it’s redundant without refinement and craft by the hands of a highly experienced team’

Ben Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Aston Martin Formula One™ Team