The other day I sat down with this Glenfiddich trilogy known as the Age of Discovery series. Glenfiddich decided to pay homage to the 1831 voyage of the HMS Beagle. The Beagle travelled around the globe and landed on the east coast of South America, allowing Charles Darwin to collect fossils that would lead to the development of his famous theory of evolution.
They have three 19 year old expressions in this range. One that is completely matured in Bourbon casks (quite lovely), one that's been finished off in Madeira Wine Casks (so blah) and this particular one that I'm staring at, the Red Wine Cask finish.
Personally I'm on the fence when it comes to wine finishes (or maturations). The Californian Cab Sauv maturation of the Teeling Single Grain is a joy to behold (and drink). Just stunning if you ask me. Glenmorangie did quite well with the Sauternes finish as part of it's core range. I quite like that whisky even if it's a bit too sweet.
But then there's the disaster that is the Glenmorangie Companta which uses a mix of Burgundy wine and Rasteau. Oh Bill, you messed that one up didn't you?Springbank used Gaja Barolo wine casks for an experiment that failed to raise any eyebrows.
The general consensus out there is that wine finishes are a tough nut to crack but that doesn't stop distilleries from trying.
The whisky has been finished off in oak casks which previously held South American Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. My sample is from a brand new bottle and served at 40%
A little sour in the beginning. Tamarind. Licorice. A little musty. Black salt. Under-ripe plums. Touch of oak. Dark currant jam. Settles down after a while. More crisp. Quite drying. Oak tannins. Black grapes. This is a funny nose. I feel that the different wines have made the nose a bit heavy, if you know what I mean. 21/25
Oak. Quite a bit of it. Very drying. Black pepper. Toffee. Licorice. Aniseed. Wild berries. Black currant. That black salt is back. So is the plum. Again, quite a weird experience. The oak tannins overpower and muddle up the delivery. 20/25
Long. Dry. Touch of oak. 20/25
I'm not a fan. The red wine influence over powers and doesn't work for me. I feel even when you finish a whisky off you have to be extremely careful of not letting your base spirit drown out. And I feel that's what's happened here. Oh, well.
Comment on @MaltActivist's review