
March 29, 2017

Glenfiddich thirty years apart

There also was that other new Glenfiddich bizarrely called ‘Vintage Cask’. Well try it, and then another OB that was bottled much earlier, that is to say thirty years ago.

Glenfiddich ‘Vintage Cask’ (40% OB, +/-2016)

Some kind of slightly misleading double entendre here, it’s called vintage but there’s no vintage, so that’s rather vintage as in vintage, I suppose. Oh well I know what I’ trying to say. And there’s no age either, but apparently, there should be some peat, let’s see. Colour: gold. Nose: plain and pure fresh apple juice, seriously. Then indeed, touches of peat smoke and more fresh barley. Rather more vigorous than other Glenfiddichs, but perhaps less peaty than that Caoran that they used to have around ten years ago. I rather enjoy this nose. Mouth: it’s interesting and it’s good, and certainly peatier than expected. It’s kind of Talisker-peated, if you will. A wee saltiness, some green pepper, then more cider apples. Rather firm for Glenfiddich, and to tell you the truth, I’d have never recognised the distillery. Only the middle is a tad weak, and that’s the low strength. Finish: picks up again for a little while, on a greenish smokiness. Comments: why this instead of some proper peaters remains to be debated as an aficionado’s POV, but this baby’s perfectly quaffable, although I liked last year’s Project XX a little better. SGP:464 - 81 points.

Glenfiddich 21 yo (43%, Wedgwood Decanter, 1987)

This famous decanter was issued in 1987 to celebrate the distillery’s centenary. It’s still relatively easy to find since collectors do not quite trust stone or china decanters because of possible evaporation (and perhaps because grandmas don’t drink much whisky). If you ever buy one of those, always ask for its weight! Colour: pale gold. Nose: a rather leathery and tobacco-like profile, fatter and drier than the Vintage’s, then some fruitier notes, between Jell-O, sweets, and sweet cider. Also tinned peaches, perhaps. Mouth: some ODE for sure (Old Decanter Effect ;-)) and some smoke for sure, with a much fatter mouth feel than that of the Vintage, loads of green tea, and some earthy bitterness. It’s firm and almost big malt whisky, tenser than any current Glenfiddich, but it’s true that this is mid-1960s distillation, partly using, perhaps, some barley malted at Balvenie. Finish: rather long, a little creamier and certainly very ‘sweet-malty’. Hints of lemon and fresh rhubarb in the aftertaste. Comments: a decanter that kept well! SGP:551 - 84 points.

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