Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish

First vapor: Leather and cherry with clove.

Nose: Yes sugarcane, in a stewed mixture of pitted fruits (mostly plum) and vanilla. Plus orange rind and a light freshness like laundry with white fruit pulp.

Palate: Orange nutmeg and sweet vanilla, becoming a faint ginger powder on underripe pear pulp. Feels like a freshly sliced almond sitting on the tongue. Clean.

Finish: Short, of nutmeg and ginger, perhaps over white peach. A creamy sensation lingers.

This exhibits the lightness I've found in most of the Glenfiddich samples: Despite any dark packaging, most of the experience feels "white". What I find special about this, compared to e.g. the 14 and 19, is the silky smoothness. The 14 had bitterness in nose and finish, and sourness in the palate. The 19 also had these but less so. The 21 seems to have tempered these, perhaps sacrificing some flavor or character in the palate-- The result is just balanced levity. Out of the "light shades" of Scotch I have tried so far, this is the one I would most like to pull out on a warm summer evening.

Find where to buy Glenfiddich whisky