The Singleton debuts 40YO whisky
Diageo-owned The Singleton has unveiled a limited edition 40-year-old single malt to conclude its Epicurean Odyssey collection.
The 40-year-old Singleton single malt is the third and final bottling in the Epicurean Odyssey series, and explores an ‘epicurean journey of flavour’ and ‘sensorial maximalism’. It followed the release of 38-year-old and 39-year-old whiskies in the range. Presenting notes of velvet dark chocolate and rich plums, the whisky was produced in an attempt to achieve ‘superlative taste experiences’. Master of malt Maureen Robinson said: “The Singleton 40 Year Old is the finale in the Epicurean Odyssey series from The Singleton, one which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed crafting and have drawn on my own personal journey of flavour from my career as a whisky maker. "At the end of this very extensive secondary maturation we sought out specially selected Ron Zacapa XO casks for a final indulgent finish to the whisky, which deliver an intensely rich, fruity and smooth finish to bring deep notes of dark chocolate. "The result: a whisky that epitomises my desire to seek out new flavour through craft, and a whisky at its most maximal.” Robinson aimed to push secondary maturation in experimental casks to ‘the extreme’ for The Singleton’s latest bottling. The Singleton 40 Year Old (45.9% ABV) will be available globally from select retailers for US$3,755 excluding duty and taxes. It is limited to 1,716 bottles. Immersive experience To mark the creation of the whisky, an immersive gallery experience in Shanghai was set up, named The Rooms of Maximalism. Guests were able to explore rooms delivering stimulation for the five senses ‘and beyond’, to reach a state of ‘sensorial maximalism’, before tasting the 40-year-old whisky. The experience included the unveiling of a large-scale physical piece created by artist Zhou Yilun, exploring the collision between liquid and casks. Yilun said: "With my material, I aimed to mimic the texture and sensation of whisky flowing through the cask and onto the tongue. "By layering paint and using brushstrokes of various hues, I sought to depict the interlacing and textural complexity of the whisky's multiple layers of flavour. It is my hope that the sculpture embodies the sensorial experience of the liquid for the viewer.” Moodsonic designed a soundscape using a sonically-induced autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), while moving digital art was provided by Found Studio. Moodsonic composer Tomas Nordmark commented: "We designed sound that will intensify flavours like velvety chocolate for those tasting.” In July, the new Singleton visitor centre opened and marked the occasion with a celebratory single malt.
