#8 Classic Malts: Glenfiddich Distillery

There are not many IB Glenfiddichs around, probably much due to the strong brand. Just as Glenfarclas doen not allow IB's to use their name on bottlings, if it could damage their reputation, I think Glenfiddich uses all their best stock too keep up quality and satisfying the enormous demand for their whisky. Remember, the 12yo is the best-selling single malt whisky in the world. I have not many Glenfiddich's but I'll try the few... With an annual capacity of 10m litres of new-make, I think the future looks good for Glenfiddich.



Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB

I did enjoy the Soler reserve 15yo quite a bit a couple years back, but remembering I had a bit more of a struggle with the 12 and 18yo. Let's see if this 2010 bottling will fare better. The color is golden, surely with E's contributing. It smells apple juice, white wine, caramel, sulphur, floral. The taste is rubbery, plastic bags, tonic, old coffee, needs some water. Now it becomes more crisp, cinnamon, ginger, nettles, grassy. I do like the initial sweetness the added water provides, but its a very subtle whisky, a bit too subtle for me at least. But not bad in any way though.

I wonder what I'd say about this if it was my first whisky ever: 5


Glenfiddich 22yo 46% Cadenhead's

Remember, IB Glenfiddich's are just about as rare as it gets these days. Which is kinda sad as I often find IB botllings brings out a more enhanced profile than what the "Vatted to a recipe" OB bottlings offers. A little lighter color than the 12yo. Smells rich and creamy, whiffs of botanics, vanilla, haystack, cloves, vegetable broth, a much more interesting nose thus far. Maybe its the added 6%abv that's talking. The taste is heavier, sweet notes, dark chocolate, fat free yoghurt, coffee beans, earthy, a very rustic Glenfiddich, who'd knew?

Much better than the standards, imho, and it is a bit sad: 7


Glenfiddich NAS 47.6% OB Snow Phoenix

A result of some distillery story, some of which are not always completely true, but this one seems so. One warehouse if I remember correctly, was broken down by the weight of the snow, and the whisky from that warehouse was bottled and then called "Snow Phoenix". So, all whisky from the same warehouse? I guess this is as close as you'll get to a single cask OB these days. Same color as the 22yo, golden. It smells very spirity, soap and vodka. This is most definitively not my kind of dram so far. The taste is better, very peppery, vanilla, flour barley, syrup, carrot juice, very sweet..

Again it is a good whisky, but too subtle for me: 4.5



Next tasting: #9 Classic Malts