Raise a glass to precision: Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ take over Singapore
From projection mapping at The Warehouse Hotel to bespoke cocktails across the city, experience the art of the limited-edition Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old – crafted with the same precision as an Aston Martin Formula One™ car
WHEN GLENFIDDICH ANNOUNCED ITS PARTNERSHIP with the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team last November, the pairing instantly seemed natural. Both brands are icons in their own right: Glenfiddich as the world’s most-awarded single-malt Scotch whisky with a family-owned legacy stretching back to 1887, and Aston Martin Formula One™ as one of motorsport’s most storied names, balancing cutting-edge engineering with an unmistakable sense of heritage.
At first glance, whisky-making and Formula One might appear to live in very different worlds. But as Glenfiddich’s malt master Brian Kinsman puts it, what unites them is the delicate balance of science and instinct.
“Both Glenfiddich and the Aston Martin Formula One™ Team rely on science and technical mastery honed over decades. Yet what truly unites us is that human element – nothing leaves our distillery without passing under my nose. Likewise, drivers rely on a visceral feel for the car to extract its ultimate performance,” he says.
It is this interplay – between data and human intuition – that has inspired Glenfiddich’s new limited-edition release, the Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old.
A whisky of precision and intuition
Crafted exclusively to celebrate the partnership, the Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old showcases the influence of American oak in shaping flavour and complexity. Three different cask types – first-fill bourbon barrels, active wine casks and new American oak – come together in a marriage that yields layers of richness: notes of maple syrup, caramelised ginger, fresh fruit salad and Chantilly cream.
For Kinsman, the cask selection was as much about creative instinct as technical knowledge. “By using three different casks, we have created a remarkably complex whisky with rich layers of flavour,” he explains. “It’s about celebrating American oak and how it influences the Glenfiddich spirit.”
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Just as a driver can feel that sweet spot where engineering and instinct align, this whisky captures the same rare harmony. Bold yet balanced, its finish is as refined as it is unforgettable.
Racing parallels, in and out of the bottle
That connection between instinct and mastery resonates strongly with Aston Martin Formula One™ driver ambassador Jessica Hawkins. Having carved her own path in the high-pressure world of motorsport, she recognises the parallels instantly.
“There’s a real connection between racing and whisky-making,” she reflects. “In racing, we have to make split-second decisions, but those decisions are rooted in years of experience. Just like a race car can have the best components, and a whisky the best ingredients, it’s human intuition and craftsmanship that brings it all together.”
SEE ALSO
She also sees patience – a virtue not often associated with motorsport – as part of the shared DNA. “Performance under pressure often relies on years of unseen preparation. Racing is about instinct and reaction, but also about patience and long-term craft – just like a whisky maturing for 16 years. The best results come from repetition and years of perfecting a craft, from knowing that quality takes time.”
Redefining excellence together
Both Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™ carry the weight of legacy. Glenfiddich’s founder, William Grant, defied convention by pioneering single-malt whisky at a time when blends dominated. Aston Martin Formula One™, meanwhile, is known for its timeless design and daring approach to performance.
What excites Hawkins about the partnership is how the two brands continue to use their heritage not as an anchor, but as a launch pad. “Both Aston Martin Formula One™ and Glenfiddich are steeped in legacy,” she says. “But neither are stuck in the past. They use their heritage to push boundaries today. Success comes when you do things differently and reimagine what’s possible.”
Kinsman agrees, describing the collaboration in one word: “Bold. This partnership marks a new chapter in whisky and motorsport excellence, inviting people to engage with two iconic British brands in bold new ways.”
Elevating the Singapore race weekend
Nowhere will this bold partnership come alive more vividly than in Singapore this month. As the Formula One weekend gets into full swing, Glenfiddich is set to deliver a suite of immersive experiences that bring the story from cask and circuit to the heart of the city.
From Oct 2 to 5, the iconic Warehouse Hotel in Robertson Quay will be transformed by spectacular projection mapping, blending the Scottish Highlands with the sleek world of Aston Martin Formula One™. It’s whisky heritage told in lights and motion.
Meanwhile, some of Singapore’s most celebrated bars – including VUE, Writers Bar, Little Birdie, The Whisper Room and Burnt Ends Bar – are pouring bespoke Glenfiddich cocktails inspired by the 16-Year-Old.
Highlights include the refreshing 1959 Spritz, a nod to Glenfiddich’s pioneering spirit. These limited-edition creations will be available until Oct 31, making them the perfect way to toast the season.
Travellers passing through Changi Airport will also find themselves swept into the action. Until Oct 11, The Glenfiddich Race Experience at Terminal 3 features a full-scale Aston Martin Formula One™ replica car, set against a dramatic digital backdrop that evokes Glenfiddich’s home in the Scottish Highlands.
And for one lucky winner, the ultimate prize awaits: A VIP Abu Dhabi race experience with a luxury yacht-view of the track. To enter, simply purchase three Glenfiddich cocktails, a whisky flight, or a bottle of Glenfiddich 15-Year-Old or above at participating bars or retailers.
A whisky for the bold
For Glenfiddich and Aston Martin Formula One™, the partnership is more than a branding exercise – it’s a meeting of minds that celebrates tradition, innovation, and the human spirit that drives both whisky-making and racing.
As Hawkins puts it: “If the Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old were a race, it would be the Monaco Grand Prix – iconic, sophisticated, steeped in heritage, yet still pushing boundaries every year.”
The Glenfiddich 16-Year-Old is available at participating bars across the island, as well as selected retailers including Grand Cru Wine Concierge and 1885 The Bottle Shop. The Glenfiddich 19-Year-Old is available exclusively at Lotte Duty Free, Singapore Changi Airport. Visit https://aston-martin-f1.glenfiddich.com/en-sg for more details.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
