Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
80 Proof
Price Point: $50 – $60 for 750 ML
Distiller: The Glenfiddich Distillery
Background
As whiskey bloggers, sometimes we sample a distillery’s entry-level expression and that can steer us into appreciating their whiskey, or not wanting to venture further with them. As they say, first impressions are everything.
This is certainly the case with Glenfiddich. I reviewed their 12 Year Old expression in May of 2012, was not impressed, and have not gone back to them since. After having the opportunity to try the 15 Year Old in a bar and at a friend’s house, I decided to buy a bottle and examine this one a little closer.
Review
On the nose, this single malt is nutty, malty, and honeyed all mixed into one. There are some rich caramel and toffee notes, too.
Glenfiddich 15 Year Old has tasty malt with some mild leather in the mouth. It’s very spicy with some almond and coffee notes that make things interesting. There’s more honey here, and perhaps some crème brûlée. There’s just the slightest hint of peat on the back-end. The only flaw I can find is something a little bitter and unpleasant on the back of my tongue, but only for a moment and then it’s gone.
The finish on Glenfiddich 15 Year Old is really tasty and pleasant. It has a malty finish, and is probably the best part of the overall drinking experience.
Rating & Recommendations
Glenfiddich 15 Year Old is a great “mid-size” expression from the distillery, earning a rating of 86 out of 100.
This is certainly a more enjoyable whisky than the 12 Year Old (in my opinion), and absolutely worth the money. I brought my bottle to the beach for a week-long vacation with my wife and her family. In four or five days, the bottle was gone, and I was tempted to go out and purchase another.
-Ryan
1 comment
Good evening, Ryan.
It’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to drop you a line, and your review of the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 has given me the reason I needed.
As you are well aware, this Speyside single malt expression is a blend of bourbon-, sherry- and new oak-casked whiskies that are “married” in a huge Oregon pine vat that had once been used to mature solera sherry. The vat is never emptied so the whisky blended in it develops a multi-layered quality. NOTE: Wikipedia has a short description of the solera process for aging liquids that might make interesting reading.
That said, Glenfiddich 15 is the ONLY sherried scotch that I’ll allow on top of Susan’s china cabinet. It ranks fourth on my Speyside list, behind The Glenlivet French Oak Reserve 15, Glen Grant 10 and Cragganmore 12.
My compliments, again, on your good taste in whisky.
Chuck