How to Create a Bespoke Whisky Tasting Experience for Dad this Father’s Day

By: Dennis Malcolm, Master Distiller at The Glen Grant

As a third-generation distiller at The Glen Grant founded in 1840 in Rothes, Scotland, there’s no other time that I reflect more on my family’s history than on Father's Day. We’ve recently released Arboralis, a liquid aged in ex-Bourbon and Spanish Sherry oak casks. This fine single malt has a soft aroma of fruit and honey, with a golden whisky delivering notes of creamy toffee and ripe pears, finishing with a long, satisfying hint of delicate spice.

Everyone has different taste profiles, so whisky tasting can be a great activity to experience with others. This Father’s Day, why not try your very own whisky tasting experience at home using the pairings below.

 

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate is one of the most popular food pairings for whisky. For dram’s like our new release, Arboralis, the dark chocolate contrasts the sweeter flavour of the liquid and brings out its citrus notes. 

This sweetness is distinctive to Arboralis’s flavour profile due to its double distillation process and use of Spanish sherry-oak casks during maturation – it’s exciting to experience this heightened sweetness reflective of its creation, when paired with chocolate.

 

Soft and hard cheeses

Cheese and whisky are a match made in heaven. At The Glen Grant, we recommend tasting our latest release, Arboralis, with a soft and creamy cheese like a Brie or Brillat Savarin cheese. These creamy cheeses help elevate the floral and citrus tones in the liquid’s flavour profile. If your whisky has more spicy undertones, try a harder cheese like a Pecorino or Parmesan cheese.

Apple pie

A sweet whisky and the rich, cinnamon filling of an apple pie will by no doubt make the mouth water. An apple pie is a perfect match for fragrant whiskeys with lighter undertones.

If you’re good in the kitchen, you can also combine the two by incorporating the whisky into the recipe for a full-bodied hearty dessert.

 

Dried fruit

Mix and match your favourite whisky and dried fruit to see what flavour profile it activates.

Our Arboralis has a floral and fruity aroma, where lighter fruit flavours such as pear and apricot enhance the citrus of the drink. If you taste the Arboralis with a darker fruit, like sultanas or raisins, you’ll start to taste the nutty and dried fruit influence of our Spanish sherry-oak casts that the liquid is aged in.

 

Pick up a bottle of The Glen Grant Arboralis Single Malt Scotch Whisky for Dad at Dan Murphy's this Father's Day! 

 

Fun Father's Day Inspiration

Places To Spoil Dad This Father's Day
The Best Father's Day Gift Ideas
Sydney's Best Arcades For Kids And Kid-ults

 

Have you signed up to our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!