Glenfiddich IPA Experiment

Review by: The Muskox

To finish my reviews of Glenfiddich’s Experimental series, I’m going back to the first one released. This whisky has been somewhat divisive, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

It should be noted that I’m an extremely casual beer drinker and don’t really like most IPAs.

Distillery: Glenfiddich.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 43%.

Age: No age statement.

Cask type:  then finished in barrels that held an overly-hopped (to the point of undrinkability) IPA.

Price: $80 CAD.

Color: Artificial. Chill-filtered.

Nose: Okay, I think I get it. It smells a bit like an IPA! There’s that fresh orange and that same herbal zing. It’s got a hoppy after-smell, if that’s even a thing. Lots of vanilla. Nuts and malt. Milk chocolate and toffee.

Palate: Light-bodied but with a certain richness. Toffee and caramel up front. Malty. Then that slightly green, herbal, leather flavour develops, but it doesn’t get close to the point of being off-putting. Builds up to oak and the slightest trace of hops, then comes back down into jasmine tea and milk chocolate.

Finish: The jasmine tea and milk chocolate carry into the finish, then some of that citrus/hops IPA note returns. More oak and vanilla. Good length.

Conclusion: You know what, I sorta dig it! The IPA notes that come through are all pleasant, and turn the light base malt into something unique. The citrus freshness is really nice, and I always love that jasmine tea note when I find it. It’s richer on the palate than I expected, and the finish is good and long. I could drink copious amounts of this.

Final Score: 82.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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