Glenfiddich 15 40%
From the distillery website:
Exemplifying our family’s tradition of innovation, our 15 Year Old expression is created using a technique pioneered by our Malt Master and its warm, spicy flavours are transformed with the alchemy of the Solera Vat.
Aged in European oak sherry casks and new oak casks, the whisky is mellowed in our unique Solera Vat, a large oak tun inspired by the sherry bodegas of Spain and Portugal.
Never emptied, and kept half full of whiskies since 1998, our Solera Vat is the culmination of curious minds and the pioneering spirit of our family. It’s also the secret behind this whisky becoming the first 15 year old expression to enter the top ten best selling single malts.
Nose: An intriguingly complex aroma. Sweet heather honey and vanilla fudge combined with rich dark fruits.
Taste: Silky smooth, revealing layers of sherry oak, marzipan, cinnamon and ginger. Full-bodied and bursting with flavour.
Finish: Satisfyingly rich with lingering sweetness.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Gold, with a slight pinkish hue, forms small beads quickly falling as thin legs.
Nose: Sweet honey fudge, citrus fruit, sultanas, light oak and a healthy helping of vanilla.
Palate: Fruit cake, heavy on the raisins and sultanas with a thin layer of marzipan, a little citrus, vanilla, ginger and cinnamon notes provide spicy warmth.
Finish: Rich dried fruit and candied peel gradually subside to leave warm ginger and a gradual rise in oak dryness.
Summary: A fifteen year old whisky for less than £50 isn’t that common these days, so Glenfiddich should be commended for not following the rapidly upward rising price trend. What you get for your money is a good quality, easy drinking malt with the rich sherry notes providing sufficient richness and character to keep the palate occupied and the experience enjoyable. The only disappointment is the feeling that the 40% abv is possibly taming this one a little too much, and that a 43-46% version would be a far more interesting prospect.
If you would like to know more about the Glenfiddich distillery and their range, follow the link to the website
