Glenfiddich and the Aston Martin Formula One Team have unveiled a new limited-edition single malt to mark the second year of their partnership: the Glenfiddich & Aston Martin Formula One Team 16-Year-Old Limited-Edition Release No. 2.
The release was inspired by Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman and Adrian Newey, the Aston Martin Formula One Team’s Managing Technical Partner. It is shaped by a shared belief that exceptional performance is defined not only by what can be seen, but by the invisible detail working beneath the surface.
The two crafts, the brands say, have more in common than they might appear. Kinsman designs a whisky that will not be ready for years, while Newey shapes airflow around a car that does not yet exist. Both work with an instinct for what lies ahead and a discipline built on precision, curiosity and foresight, which Glenfiddich describes as the heart of the collaboration.
Glenfiddich has been bringing single malt to drinkers beyond Scotland since 1961. The brand credits much of its character to small details repeated over time, from its own water source, the Robbie Dhu, to the reserves of maturing whisky it draws on. This release reflects that approach, from Kinsman’s work selecting, balancing and marrying whiskies from those reserves to the generations of expertise behind each stage of maturation.
At the centre of the whisky is a five-cask maturation. Alongside Glenfiddich’s signature fruit-led style, the whisky draws on first-fill bourbon barrels, Port pipes, Oloroso sherry casks, wine casks and a final touch of Fino sherry butts. According to Glenfiddich, sweetness, richness and structure are layered so that each cask adds its own character while the whole remains in balance.
“What I find most compelling about Adrian’s work is that the defining performance often comes from what you cannot immediately see. Behind every Aston Martin Formula One Team car are hundreds of small decisions, carefully refined to create a seamless whole. The same is true in whisky making. For this expression, I combined the influence of five distinct cask types, each contributing its own character, texture and depth. The art lies not in the individual components, but in bringing them together in a way that feels perfectly balanced and instinctively right. The result is a truly unique Glenfiddich expression, vibrant with fruit, layered with warmth, and brought into perfect balance.”
Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master
“What I love most about this expression is its sense of balance. Every element has a role to play, yet nothing feels dominant or out of place. There’s a wonderful harmony between the fruit, richness and oak, which reflects the care and precision behind every stage of its creation. It’s a whisky that showcases how thoughtful craftsmanship can transform individual components into something truly greater than the sum of its parts.”
Mijung Kim, Regional Malts Ambassador for Glenfiddich
The release also draws a parallel with the Aston Martin Formula One Team, led by Newey, which Glenfiddich says continues to push boundaries through its AMR Technology Campus, advanced Air Tunnel facilities and engineering capability. In the same way, each stage of the whisky’s maturation is composed to build depth and harmony, so that it moves from one layer to the next while keeping Glenfiddich’s character intact.
Tasting notes supplied with the release describe a nose of rich stewed fruits and floral top notes, with hints of marzipan and polished leather. A drop of water, Glenfiddich notes, accentuates the fresh, ripe fruits. The palate is mellow and silky, with a creamy, buttery toffee sweetness and caramelised cane sugar, counterbalanced by dry oak tannin. The finish is long, with lingering oaky sweetness. The whisky is bottled at 43 percent ABV.
In Malaysia, Glenfiddich is marking the launch with a pop-up activation at Jaya Grocer in The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur, running from 2 to 11 October 2026. The experience includes an interactive driving simulator alongside tastings of the new release. The whisky became available nationwide in September at selected retailers, including Hank’s, The Chamber and Cellar 18, while stocks last.
For collectors and casual drinkers alike, this release’s appeal lies in its five-cask structure —moving from bourbon (release #1) through Port, Oloroso, wine, and a Fino sherry finish—giving drinkers something concrete to taste and compare, not just a label to admire. For anyone who picked up the inaugural 2025 release, trying this one side by side offers a rare chance to track how a single collaboration evolves in the glass from one year to the next.
Photos by Glenfiddich (without watermark) and the author’s own (with timchew.net watermark).
