Glenfiddich Just Released a New Scotch for Rum Drinkers

Jacob Tyler Dunn
Jacob Tyler Dunn

It’s not often you find a spirit to appease scotch, bourbon and rum drinkers all at once, but Glenfiddich managed to make a whisky that can do it all with their latest release, Fire & Cane. The bottling is the fourth concept in the brand’s Experimental Series, which has included expressions like Glenfiddich India Pale Ale Cask Finish and Winter Storm, which is a single malt aged in ice wine casks.

Fire & Cane is the brainchild of Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman, who blended peated whisky and non-peated whisky, both of which were matured side-by-side in ex bourbon casks. He then finished the scotch in South American rum casks for three months to create a liquid that’s equal parts deeply smoky and pleasantly sweet.

“During the tastings, some experienced the unusual smoky notes, while others tasted toffee flavors—this phenomenon can be attributed to the scotch spending three months in sweet rum casks,” Kinsman said in a press release. “It’s a bold combination, which I’m sure will appeal and intrigue single malt enthusiasts as well as those looking to try something new and different.”

Fire & Cane’s smoky flavor comes from the Speyside peat that’s used in the malting process, while its sweeter, toffee-laden notes come from its time spent in the rum casks. It also has some familiar caramel notes, thanks to the Kentucky bourbon casks in which it was aged. When we first tasted the liquid, the smoky, oaky notes were immediately apparent on both the nose and palate. But upon the third and fourth sips (and as the spirit was paired with food), sweeter notes of baked apple, toffee and caramel came through. If you’re a scotch drinker looking to make your way into the world of bourbon and/or rum, Fire & Cane is a perfect gateway whisky. Or, if you’re just getting used to smokier spirits, this bottling is a great way to experience the robust flavor of peat with some softer, tropical notes to round it out.

The spirit is bottled at 43 percent ABV and is available, starting today, for a suggested retail price of $49.99 across the country. If you don’t see Fire & Cane at your local liquor store immediately, not to worry—the release will continue to roll out to more cities and states in the coming weeks and months.