Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 70cl

Product Information

The Scottish Highlands are used to source the spring water, and only the best grain is used. No matter the age, each bottle is expertly created for an enticing taste and smooth finish. On the palate, the first thing that hits is how thin this whisky feels. Not surprising, given that it's only 40%, I suppose, but somewhat disappointing nonetheless. The flavor is exceedingly smooth, with more honey, cinnamon, fudgy vanilla, sherry fruits, and light almond. The finish is fairly short, with yet more honey, oak, dried fruits, ginger, and nutmeg. Palate: Nice sweet honey and oak entrance. Becomes tart golden raisins in an apple cake... then topped with zesty orange rinds. The finish is small, almost non existent, however there is a ghost of a wisp that has apples lingering, caramel, hints of citrus and cocoa. Like I said it's a ghost of a finish so that even a couple of minutes after you've finished your sip you have apples lingering oh so faintly in your mouth. Not bad at all!

Glenfiddich is one of the most, if not THE most, popular single malts around in terms of pure sales. Whether it deserves this level of popularity or not isn't something I'm going to argue over here, and I definitely try not to let such things sway my opinion either way- a lot of things that sell well are vastly outclassed by some lesser-known offerings, but at the same time it seems a lot of times very popular malts get panned to an extent as being 'too commercial' and the like. I can say that this particular offering, for me, falls somewhere in the middle of those two extremes- it's certainly tasty, and dangerously easy to drink, but at the same time it's certainly not what I'd call thrilling by any stretch of the imagination. Essentially it's the whisky equivalent of comfort food- it's tasty and enjoyable, but it's not impressive or particularly interesting. This would be a great drink to break out and share with some friends and relax with, particularly if they don't all drink whisky often. The finish starts where the taste ends, lemon citrous, with vanilla, butterscotch and cinnamon. Fades gently leaving a gentle spicy tingle and a light honey sweetness.

Types of whisky

Glenfiddich is crafted using a traditional recipe centered around three main ingredients: water, yeast and malted barley. All produce is chosen carefully and delicately to ensure each dram contains the best single-malt Scotch whisky. The Glenfiddich 15 Year Old is the only single malt matured in three distinct casks: ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and new oak before being blended in a solera vat . This is a lovely step up in the fiddich stable, this malt is a mixture of bourbon, sherry and Virgin oak casks mixed into a large vat ( solero vat) this large vessel is never actually emptied. Bottled at 40% which is a great shame because this is stunning at cask strength.. The nose is gentle, smooth, and quite sweet, with raisins, vanilla, and loads of honey. Gentle spices and apple notes appear as well, but in general the nose is pretty simple.

Master Award, Speyside Single Malts 13-18yo Category – The Scotch Whisky – Masters (The Spirits Business) 2013 The richly layered Glenfiddich 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky is innovatively matured in three types of oak cask: sherry, bourbon and new oak, before being married in our unique, handcrafted Oregon pine Solera vat. Year on year, this Solera vat is never emptied but is always kept at least half full creating a deliciously harmonious and intense whisky which gets more complex and intriguing every year." Overall impressions: Diluting with a few drops of water opened up the flavour profile slightly, bringing out subtle tones of toffee, but I prefer it neat (the ABV is low to begin with (40 %); I’d love to sample a cask-strength sample or a dram with a slightly higher ABV). If you want a break from salt and smoke, this expression provides a warm, peaceful, affordable dram. It has slightly more body than a typical Speysider, and offers a pleasant personality. In my local store it is priced higher than the Glendronach 12 YO, and below the Balvenie 12 YO DoubleWood, which is about where it belongs.The nose is fresh, light and enticing. Honey and citrous (especially oranges) hit me straight away from over a foot away as I hold the glass in my lap. Licorice, oak and floral notes become clear as the glass gets closer to my nose. As the glass reaches my nose and I breathe deeply I get a light cinnamon note as well. Really intriguing and mouth-watering.