Whisky lovers passing through duty free this month should keep a keen eye open for the latest limited-edition selection from Chivas Regal. The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection is a series of three ultra-premium Scotch whiskies finished in a variety of first fill wooden casks, created exclusively for travel retail as precious collectable limited edition. Arriving just in time for the upcoming festive season, each bottle is a masterful reinterpretation of Chivas Regal 18 and the ultimate gift for the most sophisticated palate.

Presented by Chivas Regal master blender Colin Scott, the collection launches with the limited edition Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish. Bottled at a special strength of 48% abv to further concentrate the flavour notes in every single drop, this rare and exceptional blend is a celebratory indulgence. It is non-chill filtered to preserve the essence of its rich taste.

Upon tasting, the first experience brings a welcome scent of rich sweet notes of ripe plums, caramel, toffee and creamy vanilla. The taste is rich and fruity with orange marmalade, milk chocolate, raisins and delicate smoke flavours. The finish is long, sweet and unbelievably smooth.

With its deep golden hue and rewarding caramel and vanilla notes, the expression pairs beautifully with the elegant and cheerful festivities of the season. To understand more about the effects of celebration, ambiance and mood on the whisky experience, Chivas Regal has previously enlisted the expertise of experimental chef Jozef Youssef – the London-based chef and creative mastermind behind the multi-sensory dining experience Kitchen Theory.

Inspired by the incredible depth of character from the first of the series, the ‘Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish’, Chef Jozef Youssef has created a set of guiding sensory principles that encourages whisky enthusiasts to embark on their own experimental tasting exploration. The guidelines suggest a series of techniques that can be tailored to indulge in a more mindful experience of this exquisite blend. Chef Jozef Youssef (below) has discovered that when our senses become magnified, different flavour notes and levels of sweetness and bitterness are revealed. Seasonal celebrations are a sparkling opportunity to explore his findings. Environmental factors such as the liquid being served at varying temperatures, or listening to soundscapes featuring different orchestral instruments or even the weight of the glass in which the whisky is served, can all alter our ultimate taste experience.

“For this new Scotch whisky collection we wanted to create unique blends that accentuate the most iconic notes of our original creation Chivas Regal 18 Year Old,” says master blender Colin Scott. “Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish has been finished in hand-selected American Oak casks to highlight the distinctive notes of caramel and vanilla. The resulting blend is rewarding in character, which is why we have worked with Jozef Youssef to explore how people can truly savour this exclusive whisky.”

Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish is available in global travel retail for US$126 (1 litre). To make the travel journey more memorable and rewarding, those who have registered at www.chivas18ucc.com will receive an exquisite limited edition coaster when purchasing at Korea’s Incheon Airport, or a Chivas 18 50ml miniature when purchasing in Hong Kong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur airports. This first edition will be followed with two further editions in the collection to be launched 18 months apart. www.chivas.com