Review by: ZoidbergOnTheRocks
Life would be boring if I only reviewed whisky I really like. So here’s a flight of Glenfiddich. Tasted on 9/4/2020, neat in a Glencairn.
Just to be clear, I didn’t crack open the Izze until after I wrote all my notes for the scotch 😉
Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old. The schtick here is that this was aged for 14 years in ex-bourbon American Oak casks, then finished in charred new American Oak barrels supplied by The Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky. 43% ABV, though not stated it’s clearly chill filtered and color added.
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Speyside
ABV: 43.0%
Age: 14 years old. Bottled on 08/31/2017.
Cask type: American, Spanish Oak & New Charred Finish
Nose: sweet green apples, oak, vanilla, caramel, some sort of solvent in there I can’t quite place.
Taste: green apples, honey, very thin, a bit of white pepper, some vanilla, actually even a bit hot!
Finish: white pepper, caramel sweetness, oaky, bitter quickly, very short with a quick exit.
Very simple on green apples and a heavy oak influence. It actually feels a bit hot for just 43%, and not in a good way. There’s multiple knocks against this sadly: the solvent in the nose, bitterness in the finish, thin, and hot.
Final Score: 65.
Glenfiddich 15 Unique Solera Reserve. They say they’ve got a solera vat that is always at least half full that they add sherry, bourbon, and new oak casks to each time. Their brand ambassadors love to bang on about it, so next time you run into one ask them for more info. Bottled at just 40%, this one is also clearly chill filtered and colored.
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Speyside
ABV: 40.0%
Age: 15 years old
Cask type: Sherry, Bourbon & New Oak Casks
Nose: green apples, honey, slightly floral perfume, some pepper and vanilla, a bit of nice toffee actually, and some oranges.
Taste: sweet, thin, caramel, apples, a little white pepper, vanilla.
Finish: shortish, caramel, pepper, apples and oranges, some of that perfume, the pepper and perfume lingers longest.
A pretty simple dram with a lot of apple and sweetness on the nose, and added caramel and pepper in the rest. A little bit of interest with the perfume and toffee, but honestly not a lot going on here. It’s pleasant enough with a reasonable finish, even though it’s very short. I can see why a lot of people like this, but I’m gonna be honest with my score.
Final Score: 72.
Glenfiddich 18 Small Batch Reserve. A mix of Oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon casks. They take up to 150 casks of 18 year old scotch, blend it, then let it sit for another 3 months in “small batches” while they, I don’t know, wait for room at the bottling plant I guess. This #3304 (or is it 3309?), 43% ABV, colored and chill filtered.
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Bottler: Distillery Bottling
Region: Scotland, Speyside
ABV: 40.0%
Age: 18 years old. Bottled on 01/06/2016.
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry & Bourbon Casks
Nose: green apples, aniseed, vanilla, caramel, a bit of orange, some toast, a bit of raisin.
Taste: thin, slightly drying, sweet, white pepper, burnt caramel.
Finish: caramel, apples, pepper, moderate sweetness, a little dry, short-to-medium length, develops into oaky bitterness you want to wash out.
The nose isn’t bad for what it is: a bit simple on apples, vanilla, and sweetness. But the burnt caramel in the mouth and the bitterness of the finish is quite poor. Honestly, I rinsed with water after a minute each time I drank it.
Final Score: 65.
Bonus: Izze Sparkling Apple (2020)
This is a 248ml can of Izze Sparkling Apple, from a variety pack purchased at Costco in 2020. Bottled at an anemic 0% ABV, though it does “contain 70% juice” and there’s no added sugar and no preservatives. Labeled as a “flavored juice beverage blend”, I suppose the region is “wherever they grow apples.”
The color is lighter than the Glenfiddich, which are (not surprisingly) all the same color. Tasted chilled and neat in a Glencairn.
Nose: sweet, sweet green apples, sugar, pears.
Taste: effervescent, sweet green apples, very thin.
Finish: stupidly short on green apples and sugary sweetness.
Well, it’s what it says on the tin. Happily, I stand by all my notes of green apple in the Glenfiddich after nosing and tasting this.
Comparison
Order: 15 > 14 > 18
The 15 is the best of the bunch, easily. I’m conflicted on the 14 vs the 18. Pros and cons to each, but both overall poor in many ways. I’ve voting the 14 over the 18 because I didn’t reach for water after the 14.
I’ve taken this set to multiple whisky parties with a wide range of people, and every time I bring them back home with hardly any change. With 202 other whiskies to choose from right now I don’t know how I’ll ever finish these. Maybe that should have been the whole review.
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.
Malt Runners 