Investment honcho Clarence Chew shares his love for single malt scotch whisky

ALXZA Holdings Managing Partner Clarence Chew, who is a whisky fan, watch enthusiast and surfer dad, gives his take on the Glenfiddich Time Re:Imagined collection of aged single malts.

By Clarence Chew / 17 Feb 2023

Glenfiddich, Scotch Whisky, single malt, Whisky

Share this article

Clarence on The Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Time Re:Imagined (Suspended Time)

I grew an appreciation for scotch after going to a whisky festival and tasting whisky from nearly every maker in attendance. I was riveted by the nuances that came through with each expression and learnt that they are from both regional influences and the makers’ craft. Now as a regular whisky drinker, I continue to appreciate every dram for its artistry and loath to simply equate an age statement with a bottle’s quality.

A pure expression of the distillery’s style, the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Time Re:Imagined has preserved its verve for eternity. Warm spice, honey, rich fruit
A pure expression of the distillery’s style, the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Time Re:Imagined has preserved its verve for eternity. Warm spice, honey, rich fruit

That’s not to say I don’t respect the passage of time, or experience and heritage. When I was told the 30 Year Old Time Re:Imagined embodies the moment Glenfiddich’s Malt Master suspended the development of the whisky to capture his vision for a specific balance of spirit and maturation, I thought of my favourite timepiece, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1. Ferdinand A. Lange made pocket watches coveted by collectors all over the world, but his company was expropriated during WWII. It was his great grandson that brought the family watchmaking tradition back to life with four watches in 1994, including the Lange 1, now a modern icon.

Clarence on The Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Time Re:Imagined (Cumulative Time)

Intricately layered, the Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Time Re:Imagined is emblematic of the distillery’s remnant vatting process. Silky smooth, complex and memorable (Photo: Vernon Wong)

1/2

Origin stories are compelling. A good whisky resonates more when you know how it came to be. The signature style of Glenfiddich combined with the story of how William Grant pursued his whisky-making passion — building a distillery brick by brick with the help of his children — comes through in each dram. As a business leader, a steward of a private investment firm responsible for the wealth of three families, and as a young father of three, I can only hope to build a company that endures for generations.

The 40 Year Old Time Re:Imagined celebrates the evolutionary process of one thing building on another. It showcases layers of flavour that accumulate over time. It reminds me of the Patek Philippe Nautilus that my wife, Lyn, wears. The earlier models were time-only, and over the years, complications such as the annual calendar and moon phase were added. Who knows, maybe like the good folks at the brand say, we’re only just looking after the watch for the next generation.

Clarence on The Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Time Re:Imagined (Simultaneous Time)

An extremely rare collectors’ item, only 220 decanters of the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Time Re:Imagined have been released. Oaky, sweet and incredibly long-lasting. (Photo: Vernon Wong)

2/2

While our watches may eventually be passed down to our kids as coming of age gifts — like a reminder that their time is now, don’t waste it — they won’t be getting my whiskies. Some see rare bottles as assets, but my investment is in today’s enjoyment. Just imagine taking off your Rolex Datejust after work and sipping the Glenfiddich 50 Year Old Time Re:Imagined. You drink in this time capsule of moments created over a half century, but yet you’re also fully engaged in the present.

Most nights I take 30 minutes for myself, put on jazz music or the blues, often Norah Jones’ The Long Day is Over, and enjoy a glass of whichever whisky. It’s meditative. The only thing that beats this feeling is being on my surfboard catching a wave, but unfortunately this is something I don’t get to do daily. It also reminds me that time is the most precious commodity. It’s the one asset we can never attain more of.

Glenfiddich, Scotch Whisky, single malt, Whisky