A taste of time with Glenfiddich

Time is an essential ingredient for top-notch gustatory delights, particularly when it comes to fine wines and spirits. At a recent time-themed evening dinner in Shenzhen, connoisseurs were treated to a gastronomic experience made possible by the marriage of Glenfiddich whiskies and epicurean dishes.

A scene at the Glenfiddich evening dinner at Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

Founded in 1887, Glenfiddich, a Scotch whisky distillery guided by its founder’s passion and innovative spirit, never ceases to innovate in whisky making philosophies and techniques. Its Glenfiddich 30 Year Old, a masterpiece with deep, layered flavors and a remarkable finish derived from over three decades of time in oak, is the reflection of the century-old distillery’s insights into and reimagination of “time.”

A bottle of Glenfiddich 30 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky on display at the event.

The reimagination is also reflected in the design of Glenfiddich 30 Year Old’s packaging, where the brand’s iconic triangular bottle is outlined by flowing lines embodying time, as well as the banquet hall for the evening dinner. Overlooking urban night views on the 77th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, the venue featured elegant line elements and soft, warm lighting — the former symbolizing the passage of time, and the latter arousing reminiscences of the liquor’s color — inviting the guests to begin a journey of time.

Chef Wu Rong (L) and Glenfiddich brand ambassador Roy Zhou guide the guests to taste three Glenfiddich whiskies.

Chef Wu Rong, who crafted this exquisite culinary experience together with his team from Shanghai and Xiamen, shared with the guests his sources of inspiration for the dinner menu. With the keywords “time,” “suspension,” and “eternity” in mind, he and his team created traditional Fujian cuisine-inspired dishes with highly sought-after ingredients that would play a harmonious symphony of flavors with Glenfiddich 30 Year Old.

Recognized by the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide as Head Chef of the Year 2024, the Xiamen-born chef is the founder of Meet the Bund, a restaurant specializing in Fujian cuisine in Shanghai. A Michelin 1-star and Black Pearl 2-diamond restaurant, it has also earned a spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Under the guidance of Glenfiddich brand ambassador Roy Zhou, the guests began their Glenfiddich journey with Glenfiddich 21 Year Old, a whisky characterized by rich and spicy exotic flavors. The tasting continued with Glenfiddich 22 Year Old, which has a sweeter and rounder character.

A dancer performs before the guests start tasting Glenfiddich 30 Year Old.

Following an arresting dancing performance featuring samba, flamenco, and modern dance, the tasting climaxed with Glenfiddich 30 Year Old. Rich bronze in color, it gives substantial oak and luscious sherry notes on the nose, along with deep, woody flavors interlaced with intricate floral sweetness. An exceptionally balanced whisky, it paired perfectly with every main dish at the dinner, balancing the fullness of ginger-infused pigeon legs and accentuating the freshness of leopard coral grouper in fermented yellow capsicum sauce to bring out pleasant and long-lasting finishes.

Glenfiddich 30 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky.

As the dinner drew to a close, the guests raised their glasses in a toast to the artistry of whisky-making and a night to remember.

Founded by William Grant and his family in Dufftown, Scotland with the ambition of making the“best dram in the valley,”Glenfiddich, a pioneer in single malt whisky, is among the world’s best-selling and most-awarded single malt whisky brands. It is one of the few single malt distilleries to remain entirely family-owned. The name “Glenfiddich”is a portmanteau of the Gaelic words “glen (valley)” and “fiddich (stag)”, meaning “valley of the deer.”