Glenfiddich 18 Year

Glenfiddich has some seriously good selections out there. Recently, I had the chance to pick up their three bottle tasting pack consisting of 12, 15 and 18 year core selections. The obvious choice was to start at 18. A decidedly fruity nose, one tends to wonder if this is a taste of things to come. The fruit isn't so heavy on berries as one might expect from Sherry casks. There is a mouthwatering, almost juicy fruitiness about the entire taste, particularly the finish. Very interesting indeed. The front of the taste reminds me of toffee. Quite sweet indeed, but a little salty. The middle of the taste has that toffee blossom into baking spices. Deep, rich spices like nutmeg and cinnamon coat your tongue. This baking spice almost leads you to believe there is nothing more, but wait: that finish allows the fruitiness to creep in slowly. A few seconds after the taste is down, the fruitiness blossoms into full effect, singing of pears and berries. The finish is long lasting, sweet and fruity. This one is a bit fruit heavy for my taste. I tend to like things sweet, chocolatey and malty. But you know... it really isn't bad considering its a core selection for Glenfiddich and available pretty much year round. A good holiday bottle.

Similar characteristics to my last review (6/1/22). Unambiguous sherry-finished nose with spice cake, dates, pomander, and cool sassafras. Light glycerin on the palate, where vanilla comes in, finishing with a little pepper and more vanilla and chocolate. This is good, widely available whisky, and is far cheaper than Macallan 18 (Glenfiddich 18 can be had for around $125, whereas Mac 18 goes for north of $300). But why add E105a coloring? Why chill filtered? If you're going to age a whisky for 18 years, why not be more authentic? Would I buy it again? Yes. Glenfiddich has a long history, and in the 1960s was one of the first (if not the first) distillery to offer single malts as opposed to blends. It drinks well, and is inexpensive relative to other 18-yr-old Scotch whiskies. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. 43% ABV (Distiller still incorrectly lists 40%, over three years since I noticed that on my previous review). Chill filtered. (Batch #3958)

Finishing a bottle from 2019 and it occurred to me i never reviewed the dram. This bottle has sat near half full for two years, the palate has softened some but stull very pleasant. The nose; A symphony of sweet fruit with toffee and honey. I smell apple& pear with some rasin and apricot. You can smell a fine oak note, but it takes time to come through. I find this nose to be very enjoyable! I let my glass breathe for 45 minutes. The palate: sweet leather! Some of the softer tastings i recall have diminished through the years. I remember tasting more fruit and baked crumble, but now i taste leather varnish with a touch of chili and cherry. The mouthful is medium thick butter that goes down like Wagyu. Considering i first opened this bottle nearly 4 years ago i am very impressed with how it has help up. The palate is refined and complex, with a nose that i would love to ahower in.

There's always something special about drinking a spirit that has been aged for 18 years: time has no substitutes. In terms of age, if Macallan 18 is an iconic , benchmark sherry-influenced scotch, this is its smaller and adoring but less polished little brother. Clear, deep amber color. Nose of dried apricots, apple skins, orange oil, nutmeg, and faint cool sassafras. Light sherry presence. Gentle spice on the finish, along with milk chocolate and lingering leather and vanilla. Smooth, balanced, restrained, and pleasant to drink. 43% ABV (Distiller incorrectly lists 40%). (Batch #3958) N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

N: very much fruit forward, apple, pear, golden and dark raisins, apricot, dried candied fruits, touch of sherry, hint of an oily citrus, honey, buttery toffee, vanilla, baking spices, toasted malted cereal, a seriously large range of aromas to pick out. T: nice oily coating and mouthfeel, rich fruitiness, light nuttiness, mild oak barrel spices, baking spices, touch of a leather note on the finish along with what almost seems to be a pipe tobacco smokiness, finish evolves and changes nicely as it fades. A wonderful scotch that really is practically liquid fruitcake. Worth it in my book.

Nose: spiced malty cake with honey and light raisins. Taste: strong sweet malt and brown sugar with honey and dense figs. Grassy and spicy finish with light nutmeg and cinnamon. Peaches and apples gradually come to the front Fairly average and a good representation of the style.