From Speyside to Kuala Lumpur, there seems to be vivid connection between Michel Ong’s work at Yukimoto and the Glenfiddich Time Re:Imagined Series. 

Time is more than just a sum of seconds, minutes and hours; it comes with meanings and life-shaping stories. The notion of time, whether idle or ominous, is a powerful medium: leading you, me and everyone to where we are today. For Glenfiddich, time is an important part of its whisky-making history. This is especially true with Time Re:Imagined — spirits that transcend ages while celebrating brilliance and innovation. This exclusive ensemble, a true masterpiece by the single malt Scotch pioneer, is a beautiful culmination of decades.

Comprising the 30 Year Old (Suspended Time), 40 Year Old (Cumulative Time) and 50 Year Old (Simultaneous Time), they are all results of the coming together of cask influence and whisky characters via the savoir faire of The Malt Masters, Glenfiddich’s Time Re:Imagined series is a symphonic signifier of the distillery’s legacy. There’s precision and there’s patience — but most importantly, there’s dedication to creating something so harmonious and balanced.

Take the 50 Year Old as example. As rare as it gets, it’s a liquid amalgamation of five decades of whisky-making. With its antique gold hue, the whisky (bottled at 43.8% ABV) is known to offer notes of sun-dried vanilla and oak tannin on the palate. As for the 40 Year Old (44.6% ABV), look forward to a Dark Mahogany shade and long-lasting finish filled with bitter chocolate and stewed apple elements on the tastebuds. Last but definitely not least is the 30 Year Old (43% ABV) — characterised by its bronze colour and complex floral flavour profile.

Michel stands alongside the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old from the Time Re:Imagined Series

All three whiskies, presented in maverick and deconstructed ways, highlight the beauty of transcendent time. Complex and dynamic, every packaging illustrates the concept of time in visionary forms. Think cut-out windows and moving ribbons on the 30 Year Old, the jesmonite container for the 40 Year Old and the dramatic 3D structure conceived by data artist Manuel Jimènez Garcìa. As a distillery with more than 160 years of history, innovation definitely does not take a back seat at Glenfiddich.

The splendid story behind Glenfiddich’s Time Re:Imagined Series is a commemoration of hardwork, craftsmanship, fortitude and progress. It’s a journey to continued success. Such is also the case for Michel Ong, the founder of Malaysian artisanal jewellery brand Yukimoto. Her road to success as both a child of the world and as an entrepreneur is, undoubtedly, a product of time.

“It wasn’t easy when I started. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur at first,” confides Michel during our little sit-down at Skillet KL. Michel’s journey has seen her experience a multitude of ups and downs. Life’s rollercoaster, if you will. she participated in 2016’s Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant — placing fifth. Thereafter, she went on to pursue a career in entertainment but luck wasn’t on her side. Many curveballs later, the Penang-born personality underwent a period of inactivity.

Time slowed down for her, even affecting her emotions and livelihood. “I thought I was lost and I got nothing left in the industry”, the 31-year-old quips. But, everything changed for her when she received a special gift from her mother that reminded her to keep trying. After that, the rest is history and Yukimoto is born.

That significant moment was, in her own words, “the turning point”. And no, the changes weren’t immediate. Things did not look up for her right away but she felt a rush (a light bulb situation even) that in time, it will get better. With that, she began to dig deep into the world of gems and crystals; learning about their respective components and the value they bring. In 2017, Michel officially established Yukimoto, turning her passion for the stones into a metamorphic career.

Her storied adventure as a jeweller, spanning the past seven years, is a beautiful reflection of time and its ability to refine craftsmanship and skills. It goes without saying that she embodies the many facets of Glenfiddich’s distinctive Time Re:Imagined range. There’s an apparent connection between both Michel and the Time Re:Imagined whiskies.

Michel with the Glenfiddich 30 Year Old from the Time Re:Imagined

Success comes with time, built upon aspirations, experiences and hardwork. To be the gold standard, one has to set the bar. Just like the imaginative and rare whiskies in the Time Re:Imagined Series, it took Michel several years. Not just to grow Yukimoto but to hone her knowledge and abilities as a business owner. That includes educating herself on Intellectual Property laws, designing exceptional jewellery and sourcing for the best products available.

“We go the extra mile to make sure that what we offer at Yukimoto are constantly certified, genuine and authentic,” she states. Similar to the maturing of whisky like at Glenfiddich, the audacious spirit plays a crucial role, especially when the goal is to reach greater heights. The path towards the first taste of success is a sum of evolutions; small changes that turn into groundbreaking creations. 

Michel with a glass of Glenfiddich whisky.

In fact, it’s the culmination of both the past and the present. Like the influential Malt Masters at Glenfiddich who have been at the distillery since the 1960s, Yukimoto’s arsenal of jewellery is an expression of both Michel’s eye for aesthetics and the artisans that construct the pieces. Whether in Speyside, Scotland or Kuala Lumpur, the relationship between the passage of time and the idea of perfection is effortlessly clear.

Be it essential casks for whisky maturation, leading-edge copper stills, unmissable savoir faire by artisans and craftspeople or the most precious gems sourced from Japan, every element plays an important role towards progress and accomplishment. Michel sums it up best: “When you put your heart and soul into what you do, the results will show. Refined by and with time”. And we can’t agree more.