Enjoyable virtual tasting, tasting notes included PART 2
Glenfiddich Grande Couronne 26 Year Old: - The drink I was looking forward to most ended up my 2nd favourite, but only because dram #5 is extraordinary. This is a delicious number that brings everything you love in a cognac without the "harsh" finish. The vanilla is fantastic, I keep trying to think of additional superlatives but it's there, but the cognac casking is obvious. For me, it has a creaminess and texture that I only see in quality whiskeys, a butteriness you get from decent pastries. As it lingers (and it lingers for an age because of the viscosity) you get this almost "chewy" (I don't know how else to describe it, it feels thick) brown sugar. I swear I could almost feel granules of it between my teeth. It's a refined sweetness and what I'd expect from both Speyside, Glenfiddich and an aged whiskey. Is it worth £450? I'd say it's comparable to Redbreast 27 and the Nikka T 21, at similar price points, so yes, I would consider that a fair price.
Glenfiddich Virgin Oak 2010: - This was a total shock to me, but I can genuinely say, Glenfiddich have stumbled upon something very special here. Not even at sale currently, this is absolutely unique and special. I expected brashness from new barrels, but I got just a well rounded oak, and most surprisingly, I got this minerality I only have experienced before from dry white wines where the grapes have been grown in a chalk heavy soil near the sea (think of a chardonnay from Portugal or Greece). I know that sounds ridiculous in a whiskey, but I drink a lot, and I know what I drank. Potentially weirder still, the nose is heavy of citrus, especially lemon, and less so orange, and then as you drink it the lemon steps aside and the orange takes over. Even the name [xxx] - 2010, reminds me of a wine, instead of a 14 year age statement. This whiskey is offering something I have literally never had in a whiskey before, and it is absolutely the best thing under 18 I've drank, and gives the 21+ a run for their money. This is evidently a bit of a trial from Glenfiddich, but I really hope they release some more as is, because it's great an
Master of Malt Customer
2 years ago