Glenfiddich has announced the latest in its Glenfiddich Experiments Series, Orchard Experience, and is celebrating the release with a unique whisky tasting experience, creating a new pop-up destination cocktail bar at Pan Pacific London in partnership with synaesthetic artist Jake-Andrew Nason and Silverleaf.
The event will have a limited four-week run, from 11 August to 4 September, allowing guests to enjoy a one-of-a-kind artistic experiment with physical artwork, digital projections, soundscapes and tactile effects, for a multisensory immersive experience. They can also try bespoke cocktails featuring Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment, curated by Chris Tanner, general manager at Silverleaf.
A unique multisensory experience
Nason is a gestural abstract expressionist artist who experiences synaesthesia. He has used this to transform the flavours of the new Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment into art, combining classical painting techniques with modern concepts and movements to communicate the complex flavour notes and layers found within the whisky.
The event takes place with ALBA, Silverleaf’s exclusive, private tasting room. London’s popular Silverleaf bar is home to pioneering mixology and a forward-thinking menu.
“I was truly inspired when Glenfiddich challenged me to interpret the taste of Orchard Experiment as an immersive art form, not least because so much about the development of this remarkable liquid mirrors my own creative process,” says Nason.
“Understanding the layers and the depth of the palette lend itself perfectly to my style of artistic experimentation – creating an audio-visual crescendo that rises and builds as the lighter notes give way to the deeper flavours underneath, which is something my synaesthesia enables me to articulate.”
Pushing boundaries with Glenfiddich
Mark Thomson, Glenfiddich Ambassador to Scotland adds:
“Orchard Experiment is the latest addition to the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, a collection of pioneering single malts that push the boundaries of taste, and we wanted to find a way to bring this to life in a unique experience for consumers that truly immersed them in the vibrant flavour of this whisky.
“Watching Jake-Andrew translate his own experience of tasting Orchard Experiment into art has been a privilege and we can’t wait for guests to experience the spectacular results for themselves, as well as question their own perceptions of taste, in this exquisite setting.”
Curated experiences are also available, allowing guests to get even closer to new Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment and the artistic collaboration. These include an art masterclass guided by Jake-Andrew Nason, and a tasting masterclass with Glenfiddich experts and Silverleaf mixologists.
Experiences based around food and beverage brands have been a big trend in recent years, from the new Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh to Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard in London, which is set to open in the autumn of 2023.
