GLENFIDDICH has teamed up with an up and coming Speyside brewer to produce a beer-flavoured single malt.

The Dufftown-based distiller drafted in Seb Jones and Adam Blackwood of the Speyside Craft Brewery to work alongside master blender Brian Kinsman on its new Experimental range.

And their collaboration over the last 18 months has led a whisky matured in casks that previously held an IPA (India Pale Ale) created by the Speyside brewer.

Mr Jones, managing director of the Speyside Craft Brewery, said: “Adam and I worked closely with Brian and his team to get the flavour profiles right.

“It’s a process you can’t hurry – some of the casks sat with the IPA in them for months to make sure the flavour of the beer penetrated the casks to right level. It couldn’t be allowed to dominate the whisky but had to bring something extra to it.

“It’s been a testing time for the team but an enjoyable challenge.

“Working with Brian and his team has been a real privilege, and we’re delighted to be part of this radical new range.”

Mr Kinsman said: “The idea behind the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment was quite unusual but one we were passionate about.

“We wanted to play with flavours to see what we could create. Using beer somehow was part of the plan, and fortunately we had the call from Seb. When I called him back it was clear he shared our passion for creating innovative favours, taking risks and pushing boundaries."

The IPA Experimental whisky launches worldwide this month, with Mr Jones helping to promote the beer events in cities around the globe.

The beer will be available from Speyside Craft Brewery by December, targeting exports in many of the 184 countries where Glenfiddich whisky is sold. Extra capacity is being developed at the brewery to meet the anticipated demand.