Glen Garioch unveils the ideal festival treat for whisky enthusiasts…

Some PR I’ve recently had turn up in my inbox regarding whisky and cheese… Very focussed on Glen Garioch, but interesting all the same whatever whisky you end up having!

Glen Garioch, pronounced Glen “Geery”, founded in 1797 is one of the oldest remaining distilleries in Scotland. It is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited who also produce Bowmore and Auchentoshan.

They are knocking port and stilton off the Christmas gift list this year by revealing that the perfect festive pairing is in fact whisky and cheese.

Cheese is an ideal match for whisky as it brings out and enhances the complex flavours within the glass, so what better way to round off a hearty Christmas lunch than a dram of Glen Garioch and a slither or two of cheese.

Glen Garioch’s non-chill filtered core range – 1797 Founder’s Reserve and 12 Year Old – is the definitive accompaniment for cheese, with full, velvety textures and fruity, vanilla notes found in both bottlings.

The higher level of alcohol in Glen Garioch cuts through the rich fattiness of the cheese and allows the flavours to be released. The balance of ripening fruit, heather honey and a base of barley malt spices and nuts, all interwoven with Glen Garioch’s signature creamy texture, brings out the flavours in cheese, making the union a sublime match.

Blue cheeses, hard Italian cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or nutty cheeses like Gruyere provide the perfect base for the sweet fruity flavours, whilst smooth cheeses like Gouda accentuates the floral hues in malt.

Iain McCallum, Master of Malt for Glen Garioch, said, “What we’ve created from just water, malted barley and yeast is a single malt that has an unsurpassed richness of taste and texture with robust Highland character.

“Glen Garioch’s rich full-flavoured character makes it the perfect partner for cheese.  The acidity of ripening fruit and tingly warm spices from the barley malt and oak interplay, combine beautifully with the savoury and salty tastes in cheese, creating a culinary treasure on the palate. An excellent gift for any malt enthusiast would be our Founder’s Reserve or 12 Year Old, parcelled up with a creamy wedge of blue!”

The dairy and dram partnership has been backed by the British Cheese Board. Secretary, Nigel White, said, “Malt whisky and Mature Blue Stilton are, perhaps surprisingly, perfect bedfellows. They are best enjoyed by adding a touch of water to the Malt to release those underlying sweet, malty notes which complement beautifully the complex, mellow and slightly salty flavours in the Stilton. Just be sure to get the Stilton out of the fridge at least an hour before serving!”

A perfect Christmas gift, Glen Garioch’s Founder’s Reserve, honouring over 200 years of craftsmanship is non chill-filtered at 48% ABV and is the perfect hardy, Highland malt. It retails at around £30. The elegant 12 Year Old has been maturing in former bourbon and sherry casks over the years with an ABV of 48%. The 12 Year Old holds a complexity of flavours with notes of highland heather and poached pears. Retailing at around £35, both of the core Glen Garioch range is available at specialist whisky and spirit stores.