When Glenfiddich launched its Experimental Series in September 2016, it set out to answer a simple but genuinely fascinating question: what happens when you take a world-class Speyside single malt and finish it in casks that previously held craft India Pale Ale? The IPA Cask is Experimental Series #01 — the first release in the series, and still one of the most conversation-worthy whisky experiments to come out of Scotland in the past decade.
The process was a genuine collaboration between Malt Master Brian Kinsman and Seb Jones, an entrepreneurial Speyside brewer at the Speyside Craft Brewery in Forres. Together they developed three distinct IPA recipes using Challenger hops before selecting the final expression. The chosen IPA was brewed and aged for four weeks in used Glenfiddich American oak casks — seasoning the wood with hoppy, bitter, citrus-forward beer character. Those casks were then filled with Glenfiddich single malt for a three-month finishing period, resulting in an NAS Speyside whisky that carries the signature Glenfiddich fruit character alongside a genuine, if subtle, hoppy edge. Bottled at 43% ABV, non chill-filtered, with no added color.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery |
Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland (William Grant & Sons, Est. 1887) |
| Malt Master |
Brian Kinsman — in collaboration with brewer Seb Jones, Speyside Craft Brewery |
| Type |
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky — IPA Cask Finish |
| Series |
Experimental Series #01 — debut release September 2016 |
| Finish |
3 months in bespoke IPA seasoned casks (Challenger hops) — IPA brewed for 4 weeks in ex-Glenfiddich oak first |
| Filtration |
Non chill-filtered, no added colour |
| Proof |
86 Proof |
| ABV |
43% |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Scotland, Speyside |
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich golden — natural, with no added color
Nose: An elegant harmony of fresh green apple, William's pear, and spring blossom — the classic Glenfiddich Speyside character. Aromatic hops, fresh herbs, and a hint of lychee and citrus peel add a distinctly unusual layer. Honeyed malt and a suggestion of marmalade develop with time.
Palate: Vibrant and zesty — citrus up front with creamy vanilla and a hint of fresh hops. Banana, pear drops, and light oak weave through. A subtle herbaceous bitterness from the hops adds a genuinely distinctive texture that distinguishes this from any standard Speyside expression.
Finish: Enduring sweetness with an echo of green hops, light bitterness, and a clean minty-cooling close.
FAQ
Do you need to like IPA beer to enjoy this whisky?
Not at all. The IPA character in this whisky is subtle — it adds a hint of herbaceous hop bitterness and a citrus edge rather than the intense hoppy bitterness of drinking a glass of IPA. Tasted blind, most whisky drinkers would describe it as a fresh, fruit-forward Speyside with an unusual floral and herbal note. Craft beer lovers will appreciate the crossover, but it is first and foremost an excellent single malt.
How was the IPA cask process developed?
Brian Kinsman and Seb Jones worked through three distinct IPA recipes using Challenger hops before settling on the final version. The selected IPA was brewed and matured for four weeks in used Glenfiddich oak, which transferred enough hop character into the wood to impart flavor during the subsequent three-month whisky finishing period. The entire process was designed specifically for this expression — the IPA did not exist before this project.
Where can I buy Glenfiddich IPA Cask online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast, insured shipping nationwide.
