The folks at Glenfiddich clearly enjoy exploring new cask types for their whisky. Whether it's peaty whisky in rum casks, or making good use of icewine casks, the distillery certainly has some experimental flair. And if experimental flair is what you're after, Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old is the perfect thing. This single malt initially ages in American and European oak casks, before being moved over to rare French cuvée oak casks. The influence these casks has had on the whisky is fantastic, lifting the palate with notes of baked goods and fresh fruit.
Brioche, banana, vanilla blossom, sugared almonds, a hint of cider, lemon peel.
Melted butter on rye toast, sandalwood, peach, soft peppery hints drift in later on, with just a pinch of mint.
Flaky pastry, dry malt, pear sweetness.
Always, the greatest things have been done (and are done today) by grapes. That's why cognac and well ahead of any whiskey!
Smooth long and sweet - a hit of mouth filling whisky that rolls into a long tail of, well, an almost Champaign tinge. They have experimented with a number of finishes lately and this one definitely is worth the effort.
Very good.
