Glenfiddich, the World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, has launched its 29-Year-Old Grand Yozakura, a luxury single malt scotch whisky. The luxury single malt, matured for 29 years at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland, is the first to be finished in Okinawa’s rare ex-Awamori cask, an oak cask that previously matured Japan’s oldest distilled alcoholic spirit, Awamori. Glenfiddich collaborated with Melbourne-based custom sneaker artist Chase Shiel to create Limited Edition Grand Yozakura sneakers.

The Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura sneakers are inspired by ‘Yozakura’, the magical moment of fleeting beauty when the Japanese cherry blossom is admired and celebrated under the moonlight. Standing as a true testament to luxury and exclusivity, drawing inspiration from the rare, opulent whisky, the sneakers are crafted with meticulous attention to detail. These masterpieces source rare and exquisite materials from across the globe, each element elevating the experience to extraordinary heights. Only five pairs of these custom sneakers will ever be created, with three being exclusively available for public sale in Australia, echoing the rarity of this whisky.

For their first ever collaboration, ABC Bullion, the global leaders in precious metals and bullion, provided Shiel with 58 grams of 99.9% fine, 100% Australian gold for each pair of sneakers. These elements were custom designed and handcrafted by ABC Bullion’s sister company, Palloys, Australia’s most respected B2B jewellery manufacturer. Carefully embellishing each set, the solid Gold Glenfiddich Stag and the 29 solid Gold Stars, for each year the whisky was matured, emphasise the Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura sneakers are not just footwear but a masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of rare and exquisite craftsmanship.

Crafted by Shiel, the body of the Grand Yozakura sneakers are built with Premium Bit Shrink leather in Midnight Navy, a nod to the rich depths of flavour found in the Grand Yozakura whisky. Embracing Japanese motifs, the sneakers feature detail custom designed cherry blossom embroidery on the heel. The unique sneakers also incorporate a crackled, Canada Dark Navy midsection and collar, Valencia Lamb Nappa Navy lining, and AJ1 hand-dyed aged midsoles, inspired by the aged perfection of the Glenfiddich whisky.

Glenfiddich Creative Collaboration Lead & Ambassador, Ross Blainey, commented:

“We are always looking for ways to push boundaries in the production of our whisky. Finding and using these super rare ex-Awamori barrels was a challenge for our team which brings a whole new unique element to our single malt. Innovation has always been at the heart of Glenfiddich, and we had to take a chance when making this whisky. We could only get a couple of barrels to do the initial trial and had no idea what effect they would have… It was completely unknown. That is the kind of opportunity we jump at to work with!

At Glenfiddich, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing our partnership with Chase Shiel flourish over time. Now, wanting to push our designs to a new level, we’re thrilled to unveil yet another chapter in our collaboration, this time including gold from ABC Bullion, the world’s leading precious metal brand. Together we have crafted a Limited Edition sneaker inspired by our Grand Yozakura Single malt with elements of the cherry blossom and the night sky, though carefully selected production and design elements. At Glenfiddich we are always looking to push the boundaries and this collaboration is a perfect representation of staying true to craftsmanship while pushing creativity to new levels in our whisky.”

 

Custom Sneaker artist, Chase Shiel, stated:

“Embarking on this third creative collaboration with Glenfiddich and first with ABC Bullion has been a remarkable journey, highlighting the importance of storytelling.

Inspired by the Grand Yozakura launch, this project has been a thrilling opportunity for me to infuse my creativity into something truly exceptional, allowing me to work with rare and fine materials from around the world. Whenever I partner with Glenfiddich, I’m granted the creative freedom to bring my visions to life, ensuring our collective essence and values shine through. The passion invested in incorporating the luxury of gold, from ABC Bullion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the realm of sneaker making, and one I will never forget.”

These incredible sneakers are exclusively available as a Limited Edition Box Set, priced at $15,999, through a ballot (HERE, live now) until 11.59pm ADST on 29th October. Successful entrants of the ballot will be able to purchase the truly exclusive Limited-Edition Box Set which includes:

  • A 700ml bottle of Glenfiddich 29-Year-Old Grand Yozakura Limited Edition whisky.
  • A custom pair of one-of-a-kind sneakers by Chase Shiel, inclusive of three sets of premium leather laces in navy, gold and pink.
  • A hand-sewn 100% Pure Silk sneaker bag, reminiscent of the finest Japanese silk.
  • The Limited-Edition Box Set will be presented in a luxurious, handcrafted solid Oak box perfect for long-term storage.