Glenfiddich Tasting Collection Tasting Set

Took a blind taste on 5 drams, guess what?! my favorite is the 2010 Virgin Oak! but it not released yet? sad

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

Glenfiddich 18: - The only whiskey in the set I've had. IMO, it's the best value for money whiskey there is, and I stand by that. It's a fab whiskey at a fab price point. It gives what you expect from Speyside, orchard sweetness on both the nose and palate, certainly no peat and no real smoke. Some oak, but it's soft,

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Reserva Rum Cask Finish: - If I'm honest, this isn't for me. I can think of sooo many better whiskeys at this price point. I don't believe the whiskey and rum are harmonious at all, they fight throughout. It does have a nice amount of ginger, it starts quite unrefined freshly chopped on the nose, and then is sugared / candied as you drink it. Honestly, I wish they'd have played to that flavour more, could have been interesting. The rest is lost and confusing, it's sort of cacao meets pineapple (?) meets Xmas cake that just doesn't deliver and you feel slightly awkward serving. I would be so dissapointed if I spent £130 on this as a bottle.

Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old: - This is a mighty fine drink at a fair price point, at ~£200. It is the softest of the 5 by a considerable margin. It's like a very gentle apple, not a Bramley or a cooking apple, but one of those Pink Lady numbers that is extremely mild to the point of inoffensive. It does have a certain baking quality, like marzipan or toasted nuts, that carries through to the flavour, and really carries the drink. I think you'd be mad to dilute this further, it's gentle and probably needs to be drank by itself. I'd be curious to see how a pepper taste (cigar?) would compliment this. I would say the tannins from the wine show on the taste, there's a warmth and longevity you get from bold wines. It's quite subtle but enjoyable.