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Glenfiddich 18 Year Old

Love, Scorn, or Indifference

2 391

@VictorReview by @Victor

22nd Nov 2013

0

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old
  • Nose
    24
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    91

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Glenfiddich 18 YO polarises people. I have been entertained for years by how much extreme variation of opinion there has been, even among gentle Speyside malt lovers, about Glenfiddich 18. Me? I love my bottle, so I really don't understand those who don't. And that coming from a guy who prefers his whiskies at 68% ABV or more. The reviewed bottle has been open 2 years, gassed with inert gases for 13 months, and is 95% full. 95% full not because I don't like Glenfiddich 18, but only because I have 150 other open bottles vying for attention

Nose: a lot of spice, including black pepper, ginger, and a bit of cloves. Strange. I'd almost think that this was a rye whiskey nose. This nose is also very perfumed and floral, with beautiful flavours of rose which harmonise with gentle and beautiful fruit flavours of grape from the wine casks. The malt is apple-y, gentle, and pleasant. There is a perfect balance of sweet and dry. Wonderful nose

Taste: a very good translation of the nose flavours to the palate, with added sweetness, particularly with a long-opened bottle. At this point of the bottle open the mouthfeel is very soft, silky, and creamy. I like that soft mouthfeel very much

Finish: medium length, but all of the flavours stay strong

Balance: this is an unusually spicy Scottish malt. I have to think that this spice is from the oak...it is not from barley. This reviewed bottle of Glenfiddich 18 YO is quite elegant, refined, and very well-balanced. I am a very big fan of Glenfiddich 18 YO as exemplified by this bottle

When I see Glenfiddich 18 bashers I often wonder whether their samples are from a lesser batch than is my bottle. This bottle of Glenfiddich 18 tastes great, and is everything I could want from a light and elegant Speyside malt whisky

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3 comments

@vanPelt
vanPelt commented

Thanks Victor, I'm encouraged to try this now. I passed earlier, based on reviews here. For instance @galg said the 14yo and 15yo were better, and @jwise scored it 45(!) for finishing too dry. Many complain of it being too woody-- Would you say that this is a malt for "wood lovers?"

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@vanPelt, the spice in the nose must derive from wood influence in my bottle of Glenfiddich 18, but I don't get in the nose large amounts of any of the other typical oak flavours, viz. oak, maple, vanilla, natural caramel. The sweetness on the palate probably also relates largely to sugars from the oak, but it does not taste caramel-y or of toffee, but more like honey. The finish is definitely drying, but maintains much of the sweetness from the palate, especially with this well-aired bottle. The effect overall is somewhat to the dry and spicy side, much like a typical US straight rye whiskey is dry and spicy. BTW I liked this bottle from the very opening. Of course, dry and spicy is a style I personally very much like in general.

When you compare to Glenfiddich 15 Yo,..., eh, the flavours aren't bad, but that one just tastes watery to me, like someone has watered down my whisky...the 51% ABV Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Edition is fantastic, EXCEPT that it really has no finish. POOF! It's gone! A very cruel magic trick. I am extremely hopeful that Glenfiddich will put out another 51% ABV 15 YO Distillery Edition, which actually has a finish. I want THAT one. I am also happy with my 18 YO, but, yep, this one divides people. Maybe get yourself a sample of the 18 first, @vanPelt.

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@PeatyZealot
PeatyZealot commented

I liked this one too, very gentle and distinguished, a nice wind of change in between all the smelly bogmonsters :)

11 years ago 1Who liked this?