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I secretly plan my dream retirement as a Provence, France local — from where I’d enjoy my morning coffee to where I’d buy fresh fruit and flowers — as its rolling countryside passes by outside the car window.
My long, colourful summer dress is completely soaked with the spray of the Mediterranean Sea. The lenses of my sunglasses are covered in its salt. My cell phone screen is now temporarily frozen from water damage.
But I’m happy.
Writer Erin Nicole Davis in Provence, France
It was a wild boat ride back from Porquerolles Island — one filled with stomach-dropping dips, dramatic drenches, startled shrieks and belly laughs. The overcast weather means the blue hues of the sea and sky don’t pop behind the bobbing sailboats like they would on a sun-soaked afternoon in the French Riviera, but the consolation is the thrilling ride through the choppy water.
This leaves me notably less put together compared to the start of the day — not exactly the chic South-of-France look I’d envisioned for our late-August press trip. Admittedly, I could have stayed dry and less wind-blown inside the boat. But — leaning into the whole joie de vivre of it all — myself and two others opted for seats in the boat’s exposed stern, despite warnings it would be a wet and bumpy ride.
This live-in-the-moment mentality is all part of the summertime experience in Provence. So are endless rows of purple lavender fields, sunny beaches, fresh local fruit markets, fragrant wild flowers, slow seaside dinners and elegant vineyards. It’s a relaxed, but refined lifestyle. And yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds — overcast or not.
It’s The Glenlivet cask master Kevin Balmforth’s job to bottle up this distinct Provence essence. The latest creation, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Beyond Speyside Series: Provence Edition, fuses the beloved Glenlivet 12 Year Old Speyside single malt with the soul of Provence.
The Glenlivet cask master Kevin Balmforth
The new limited-edition whisky hit shelves on September 16 and is the second release in The Glenlivet’s “Beyond Speyside Series,” which reimagines the Scottish brand’s traditional malt scotch using unique global cask finishes. The celebrated first release, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition, was selectively finished in casks that had previously held Jamaican rum.
Now, it’s Provence’s turn to shine.
For The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Provence Edition, Balmforth hand-selected French wine casks and Provence cru classé wine casks to selectively finish the brand’s 12-year single malt. This new innovation was the first-ever use of white wine casks in The Glenlivet expressions.
The idea behind the new Glenlivet release was to create a whisky inspired by the unique easiness of Provence, says Balmforth. “It’s sort of a relaxed vibrancy,” he explains. “We were looking to capture the region’s vibrant flavours, but it’s also just an easy drinking expression of it as well.”
Balmforth leads us through a masterclass at the sprawling Château Sainte Marguerite winery, located on the Mediterranean coast between Toulon and Saint-Tropez, where he sourced the rare cru classé wine casks. Founded in 1977 by Brigitte and Jean-Pierre Fayard, the family-run Château Sainte Marguerite is one of only 18 estates to hold the prestigious Cru Classé des Côtes de Provence designation.
Guests can tour the Château Sainte Marguerite estate in Provence, France
Olivier Fayard, Château Sainte Marguerite’s CEO and winemaker, explains that the estate’s magic comes down to its unique terroir. By blending grapes grown in the cooling sea breeze with those rooted in mineral-rich limestone and sandy soils, the winery achieves a delicate balance of vibrant freshness and structural complexity.
The Glenlivet tastings at LCBO
The Glenlivet Provence Edition will be available to sample at select tastings across LCBO stores this holiday season.
The pristine vineyards provide a peaceful backdrop to sip the new Glenlivet 12 Year Old Provence Edition and a raw Glenlivet new make that sit in drams in front of us. I can’t call myself a scotch connoisseur by any stretch. Sniffing the new make — which had been reduced down to 20 per cent ABV for tasting purposes — makes my eyes water and the hair stand up on my arms.
But — as I had anticipated — The Glenlivet Provence is easy to sip and savour.
Dinner at L’Estagnol Beach is also an experience meant to be savoured. It begins with a visit to the picture-perfect beach (guests can enjoy a pre-dinner sunset dip) before a few friendly rounds of South-of-France pastime pétanque over incredible wood-fired pizza and Glenlivet Golden Hour Spritz cocktails (Provence Edition with apricot liqueur and Lillet Rosé). Inside the restaurant, we watch our traditional bouillabaisse fish stew sizzle over a fire before it hits our plate.
While falling in love with Provence for reasons like this may be easy, creating a blend inspired by the region presented a unique challenge, says Balmforth. Casks play a major role in the final result, so top-quality is a non-negotiable for him. “We really go to the extreme to find the best casks that we can,” he says.
The Château Sainte Marguerite white wine casks were combined with Rivesaltes and Sauternes casks, with each one only having been used once or twice in its past life — something extremely important, says Balmforth. “If you used, say, 50 wine casks that had been filled three times, there’s a good chance at least 50 per cent of the product would not be usable,” says Balmforth. “With these casks, every single one was perfect.”
The whisky spent between seven months and one year finishing in the casks before being bottled at The Glenlivet Distillery in Scotland in March. Each cask contributes its own character to the whisky, explains Balmforth. Château Sainte Marguerite casks deliver bright citrus and elegant floral notes, Rivesaltes casks add nuttiness and warming spice, while Sauternes casks bring rich marmalade and crème brûlée flavours.
The Glenlivet cask master Kevin Balmforth with Olivier Fayard, Château Sainte Marguerite’s CEO and winemaker
“You want that slow evolution of flavour,” says Balmforth, holding a dram up to his nose. “It still tastes like Glenlivet, but it’s very different; something exceptional. There are so many different layers of flavour in there.”
The Glenlivet’s traditional elegant and mellow house style mixes with delicate floral complexity and ripe orchard fruit notes, explains Balmforth. White peach, nectarine, pear and bright citrus are complemented by subtle spice, bringing a sun-ripened character to The Glenlivet 12’s signature approachable style.
Over a seaside dinner at Le Marais, we enjoy Château Sainte Marguerite white wine and rosé as the perfect complement to grilled white fish, fried croquettes, prosciutto crudo and grilled vegetables. With its endless sea views, strings of colourful vintage lampshades, ample greenery and shared plates of fresh Mediterranean fare, the beach restaurant embodies Provence’s relaxed yet refined vibe.
As the sea disappears in the night sky, we sip Glenlivet cocktails like the Golden Hour Old-Fashioned (Provence Edition, unrefined cane sugar and bitters) and the Sunlit 75 (Provence Edition with lemon juice, simple syrup and sparkling wine). We’re the last to leave.
At home, Balmforth recommends pairing The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Beyond Speyside Series: Provence Edition with a quality French cheese. “I think good French cheese would be perfect, especially something like a matured comté,” says Balmforth. “You get a nutty savouriness to it to complement the whisky’s layered flavour profile. It works really well.”
Personally, I’d also recommend enjoying it while seaside in Provence. Now, back to the retirement planning...
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Provence Edition is now available at the LCBO for $99.95.
