
June 3, 2016

Little duets, today Glenfiddich

Now that they’ve lost their #1 position to Glenlivet, I think we’ll start to try more Glenfiddich. I know, not very smart, is it.

Glenfiddich 18 yo (40%, OB, +/-2015)

It got quite expensive in recent years, perhaps is that one of the reasons of the aforementioned event. Colour: gold. Nose: very light and shy, with distant whiffs of almonds, cake, and the usual overripe apples. Touches of raisins, oriental pastries (rosewater), a little toasted bread, rosehip tea… So it’s light indeed, but rather elegant and subtle. Mouth: light again, but I wouldn’t call it weak. Mars bar, orange juice, Ovaltine, croissants, chocolate… Sadly, the light strength makes it lose steam on your palate, which is frustrating. On the other hand, that may make you drink more (what a cunning plan, milord!) Finish: very short, toasty, with some biscuits and some chocolate. Comments: such a low strength, when your distillate is light in the first place, is really becoming a problem. A good, but thin 18 years old. SGP:331 - 79 points.

Let’s find more power…

Glenfiddich 'Highland Still Master's Crock' (101 proof, OB, stone flagon, 75cl, +/-1985)

Whisky lovers usually don’t care much for these decanters, since you just cannot be sure that the levels are OK (unless you always carry some small scales and know the usual weight of each decanter by heart). Unless you know how to interpret the ‘glug-glugs’ when you shake them. Colour: straw. Nose: it reminds me of the very good 15 yo cask strength from around ten years ago. Sharp lemon and apple juice, barley, gooseberries, rhubarb… I do enjoy this fruity and zesty freshness. With water: gets more mineral.

Mouth (neat): feels more like 50 than 57% vol., so that’s probably 101 US proof. There’s a gritty earthiness that’s not very Glenfiddich, and a bitterness as well, but that works, even if the whole’s pretty austere. Raw leaves and peels. Some lemon in the background, plus green, very tart cider apples. With water: very good now. Barley syrup, tinned peaches, fruit salad, honey… It swims well! Finish: medium, rather crisp and ‘fruit-salady’. Honeyed aftertaste, with a touch of earth – was that the flagon? Comments: goody good. Beats the new 18 hands down, and that’s not only because of the higher strength. SGP:551 - 83 points.

(And thanks Tom!)

Check the index of all Glenfiddich I've tasted so far