.glenfiddich - 21 - gran reserva

Jeez... this is another dram I have overlooked. Okay, the price is right up there, but if there is money to spent, don't skip this while browsing in the store, just because it is 'just' a Glenfiddich. I am becoming a fanboy, but... there is nothing 'off' about the brand, nor this 21 year old, finished for four months in Rum casks, to add this extra layer of sweet oumpfh. Again; Fiddichside banana boats*.

40% abv, €150
single malt

Nose: sweet, brown caster sugar, vanilla, mellow, creamy, honey, fruit, banana, citrus, orange-peel, tangerine, limes
Palate: medium-dry, sweet, brown caster sugar, vanilla, creamy, honey, caramel, toffee, fruit, banana, pear, avocado, caramelised apple, ripe cherries, floral, cherry blossom, spicy, chilli, citrus, lime juice
Finish: long, spicy, white pepper, nutmeg, dry, sweet, honey, vanilla, cotton-candy, floral, honeysuckle
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: Brilliant stuff. The price is up there, but well worth it.

More info: During the Spirit of Speyside festival 2016, a blind tasting was held with six whiskies, divided over three categories: 12yo and under, 13-20yo, 21yo and older. In all three categories, Glenfiddich turned out to be the winner with their standard lineup 12yo, 18yo and 21yo. That alone should say something.

.many thanks to the #dram16winners twitter tasting

*contact me for the simplest recipe ever

.glenfiddich - 18yo

Door number 23 of the Drinks by the Dram WhiskyAdvent Calendar 2015 opens to a classic distillery's - often overlooked - eighteen year old, matured in small batches of only a handful number of ex-Oloroso and Bourbon casks, making every batch a little different from the previous or the next.

40% abv, €60
single malt

Nose: rich, sweet, dried fruit, raisins, plums, warm apple sauce, citrus, orange peel, mango, peach, pineapple, coconuts, tarte tatin

Palate: smooth, sweet, spicy, white pepper, a hint of cinnamon, fruit, grapes, kiwi, ripe bananas, mango, peaches, warm apple sauce, citrus, marmalade, fresh ginger

Finish: sweet, fruit, very ripe bananas, warm apples, citrus, orange peel, dark chocolate, coffee beans, tarte tatin
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Fiddichside banana boats anyone? Whenever you are in the vicinity of the distillery with a BBQ within reach, feel free to bring bananas, caster sugar, a bottle of this and a ball of vanilla ice cream. This dram will do awesome in the recipe, and in your glass with it. Great stuff.

More info: During the Spirit of Speyside festival 2016, a blind tasting was held with six whiskies, divided over three categories: 12yo and under, 13-20yo, 21yo and older. In all three categories, Glenfiddich turned out to be the winner with their standard lineup 12yo, 18yo and 21yo. That alone should say something.

.many thanks to the #dram16winners twitter tasting 

.glenfiddich - 12yo

I re-reviewed the most consumed Scotch whisky in the world. The Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown currently produces a whopping 13 million litres of spirit per year, but that seems not to be enough, so they are building another still-house next to the current two, to add even more stills to the 32 already in operation.

40% abv, €30
single malt

Nose: sweet, vanilla, fruit, apple, pear, citrus, orange zest, lime, sweet marmalade, spicy, a hint of cinnamon, milk chocolate, mocha
Palate: creamy, sweet, caster sugar, vanilla, fruit, apple, pear, sweet cranberries, spicy, white pepper, citrus, oranges
Finish: sweet, fruity, apples, a hint of bitter marmalade, medium long
Mark: ++++/+

Conclusion: Much better as I remembered and first reviewed. I am not sure if this has to to with me becoming a snob in 2012 and not wanting to like this, or that the sample I have tasted back then was just off. All in all, this is a whisky that everyone should have in their cabinet as an every day dram, there is a reason they produce and sell this many bottles: it is just an excellent one. Don't be that guy and rule out drinking Glenfiddich because... it is 'just' Glenfiddich. Get your head out of your ass, buy a bottle, drink it, enjoy it.

More info: During the Spirit of Speyside festival 2016, a blind tasting was held with six whiskies, divided over three categories: 12yo and under, 13-20yo, 21yo and older. In all three categories, Glenfiddich turned out to be the winner with their standard lineup 12yo, 18yo and 21yo. That alone should say something.

.many thanks to the #dram16winners twitter tasting to re-introduce me, and opening my eyes

.glenfiddich - snow phoenix

"In 2010, twice a winter’s worth of snow fell on our warehouse roofs in just a few weeks. In the most remote part of our Distillery, bearing the weight of a herd of elephants, a few collapsed. 
The bright winter sky poured in, and standing amongst precious casks, our Malt Master was inspired to mark this moment in history."

.glenfiddich - malt master edition - batch 01/15

Although sister distillery the Balvenie has had a huge success with their DoubleWood expressions, Glenfiddich themselves have never officially experimented with finishes. That is; until now. With their Malt Master Edition, they have created a whisky that has spent several years in ex-Bourbon casks, and is finished for some more years in ex-Sherry casks.

.glenfiddich - sample 291006317

At some of his tastings Dutch Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador Tony van Rooyen likes to surprise his guest with something he "found in the back of the car", with a sample he received from the distillery. A while back, we attended on of his "the secret of wood" masterclass, and because I was appointed to be the designated driver, he was kind enough to allow me to fill a sample bottle, with a special six to seven year old  Glenfiddich cask sample.

.glenfiddich - 14yo - rich oak

40% abv, €35, single malt, caramel E150 added

Nose: sweet, honey, vanilla, fruit, raisins, fresh, bees-wax
Palate: sweet, honey, dry, fresh, floral, heather, tannins
Finish: short, fresh, sweet, vanilla, dry, fruit, grapes, banana, raisins
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: Nice, she is a bit dry though, also because of the tannins. A good description would be: whisky. She could have favoured from a higher abv.

More info from the website: "We bring a completely original finish to single malt Scotch whisky. After 14 years maturing in fine Spanish oak and American Bourbon casks, our Malt Master carefully selects virgin Spanish and American oak casks to release extra layers of aroma and flavour into our whisky. The first virgin American and European oak finished whisky in the world".

.glenfiddich - 15 - solera reserve

abv: 40%
type: single malt
fles: 70cl, €35,- geproefd met 20cl sample
filtratie: onbekend
karamel E150a: onbekend

neus: fris, fruit, bloemen, viooltjes, heel duidelijk rozijnen
smaak: pittig op de tong, fruit, rode bessen, zoet, vet, druiven
afdronk: kort, beetje scherp, licht bitter
score: +++

conclusie: helemaal niet gek, maar ook niet super. Voor mij wellicht één van de betere Glenfiddichs, onder diegenen die in de standaard verkoop te koop zijn. Glenfiddich is één van de meest verkochte whisky merken ter wereld.

Deze whisky heeft tenminste 15 jaar op zowel sherry-, bourbon- en nieuwe vaten gerijpt, waarna ze is gehuwelijkt in een zogenaamd Solera Vat. Een dergelijk vat wordt nooit geleegd tot verder dan de helft, waardoor elke botteling jaar na jaar complexer en fascinerender wordt.

.glenfiddich website