Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix Scotch Whisky
Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix Scotch Whisky is a legend in a bottle: 47.6% ABV (95.2 proof), 750mL, a one-off limited edition released in 2010 and never repeated. When heavy snow collapsed four warehouse roofs at the Glenfiddich Distillery in January 2010, Malt Master Brian Kinsman and his team salvaged casks of varying ages — whiskies aged 13 to 30 years in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks — and married them into this unique single malt, bottled without chill-filtration. A true collector's piece with a story no other bottle can tell; order it online from Del Mesa Liquor while it lasts.
- ABV: 47.6% (95.2 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: No age statement — contains whiskies aged 13 to 30 years
- Casks: Selected ex-bourbon American oak and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks
- Style: Limited edition, non-chill-filtered; bottled in 2010
- Origin: The Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
- Presentation: Metal gift tin with a leaflet telling the Snow Phoenix story
Born of the 2010 Snowstorm
On the evening of January 7th, 2010, Scotland's heaviest winter in decades sent the roofs of four Glenfiddich warehouses crashing down under the weight of snow, with temperatures at the distillery plunging as low as -19°C. Rather than re-blend the salvaged whisky into ordinary batches, Brian Kinsman skilfully married the best of the affected Oloroso and American oak casks into a single celebratory bottling — a phoenix rising from the snow. The expression was dedicated to the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, with a share of the proceeds donated to their work. Explore more of the distillery's range on the Glenfiddich collection page or compare it with other rare single malt whiskies and aged whiskeys.
Tasting Notes
Creamy and particularly lively on the nose, with hints of caramelised sugar, coffee and elegant sherry notes alongside a touch of woody smoke. The palate is complex and full, the marriage of bourbon and sherry casks showing real harmony, and the finish is particularly long — warming oak, dried fruit and lingering sweet spice.
How to Enjoy
Non-chill-filtered and bottled at a robust 47.6%, Snow Phoenix takes a few drops of water beautifully, which opens up the sherry character. Pour it neat when you want the full story in the glass. This is a bottle for the shelf of someone who collects Speyside single malts with genuine provenance — or for a special-occasion dram shared with people who appreciate what they are tasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Glenfiddich in January 2010?
Exceptionally heavy snow caused parts of the roofs of four warehouses at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown to collapse. The distillery team recovered the casks of varying ages in temperatures as low as -19°C, and Malt Master Brian Kinsman married the best of them into the one-off Snow Phoenix bottling.
How old is the whisky in Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix?
Snow Phoenix carries no age statement: it is a marriage of whiskies aged between 13 and 30 years, drawn from ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks affected by the warehouse collapse.
Why is Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix so sought after?
It was a true one-off — bottled once in 2010 and never repeated. The combination of genuine distillery history, a compelling story, quality liquid at natural cask-influenced strength, and strictly limited numbers has made it a cult bottle among Glenfiddich collectors.
What does Snow Phoenix taste like?
Creamy and lively, with caramelised sugar, coffee, woody smoke and elegant sherry notes leading to a particularly long, warming finish of oak, dried fruit and sweet spice.
San Diego, CA collectors, take note: Del Mesa Liquor has the one-off Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix in stock — add it to your cart online before this piece of distillery history is gone.