William Grant & Sons Ltd. also make Glenfiddich single malt scotch at the distillery of the same name in Dufftown, Scotland. The Glenfiddich brand is a good one. The iconic triangular bottle that was introduced into the market place in the 1960's steadily grew in popularity until it appeared and continues to appear in virtually every bar in the world. So, can something so common be any good? Well, we know that Grant's Family Reserve is common, like chicken pox, but is not good. Meanwhile, Glenfiddich single malt scotch, regardless of how common it may be, actually is good!
The Glenfiddich product line starts with the 12 year old single malt, a citrus, honey, oak dram that is rounded and pleasing. Next up is the 15 year old, the subject of today's review. The 18 and 21 year olds are special also but will have to wait for another day. I gotta keep you coming back somehow!
When I indulge in the 15 year old, I am immediately struck by how much distance there is in quality between it and the 12 year old. While the 12 year old is a decent and pleasing introduction to Speyside single malts, it is the 15 year old that will reveal why single malts enjoy cult like affection from their admirers.
Color
Amber.
Nose (undiluted)
The aromas drifting upwards from your glass are heaven sent. Rich, fragrant spices with oak and a little peat swirl. Rarely does a single malt have aromas that can be termed complex, but this is one. A real treat to nose. The only other scotch with a possibly superior aroma is Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Is it better? I am unsure. They are both great.
Palate (undiluted)
The complexity promised by the aromas is fulfilled on the palate. Take a sip and you will enjoy honeyed, coffee crisp candy bar center, with an intricate spiciness. All of this takes place against a tapestry of oak and white chocolate.
Finish (undiluted)
Puckering dryness with intensifying spices moving eventually to mild peppercorns.
General Impressions
This is a light bodied single malt which showcases the best that Speyside has to offer. It is smooth, yet interesting. The honey and vanilla are there, coupled with oak and some toffee. You will enjoy a concentrated flavor profile. The honey flavors have a wild taste, some heather mixed in, making for a complex dram.
Good price! They could raise this price by $10 and it would not affect market share in my opinion.
If you like Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Chivas Regal 18 year old and in general anything from Speyside, then Glenfiddich 15 year Solera Reserve will not disappoint!
Cheers!
Jason
Copyright © Jason Debly, 2012. All rights reserved.
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Glenfiddich 15 is the best expression that they put out. A must have for any collection. Mark - www.Rivercitywhisky.com
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, this is one of the best 'bargain' priced malts. . For how long, that is the question. But they cannot increase the price too much without bumping into their own 18 yo, which based on the labeling, rather than quality, will always be more expensive. I am not even saying the 15 yo is better (you can tell immediately it IS younger), just, as you put it, more interesting.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. That said, I would gladly exchange a bottle of 18y/o Glenfiddich for a 15y/o any day. By far my favorite single malt in its price range.
ReplyDeleteJason,
ReplyDeleteJust curious, what would you rather buy, Glenfiddich 15yr at $36USD, or Aberlour 16 year at $56 USD?
Hi Jason, just wanted to comment that I received a bottle of the Solera Reserve for my Birthday back in January. I have been thoroughly enjoying it. I fully expect this to be a regular staple in my collection. I'm sure there are a lot better out there (most of which I probably can't really afford often) but this one amazes me every time I open the bottle.
ReplyDeleteCharles, dont let price be indicative of quality. Glenfiddich 15 is a lot better than many higher priced malts. It is a staple in my cabinet too!
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly new to scotch, though I did buy a bottle of Bowmore Legend about 5 years ago which I instantly loved. To me it was nostalgia in a bottle. The second was Glenfiddich 15 Solera, which I bought on the advice of a sotch lover who works at my local liquor store a few months ago. What I noticed was like Bowmore, the nose and palette of this stuck with me and rolled around in my mind long after the dram was gone. It's got a great taste, yet is refined and easy to drink. I love the Islay malts, but I go for this one when I'm not in a mood for peat and smoke. The sherry is present yet subtle as well, with a smooth honey/vanilla flavor like Jason said. Great review, and a great whisky. The bottle is about 2/3 gone and it makes me sad if that says anything. If it went tonight I'd have to have it back in the cabinet very soon. Definitely a staple.
ReplyDeleteHi Roger! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to post a comment.
ReplyDeleteBowmore and Glenfiddich are kinda polar opposites in terms of flavor, not that that is a problem. They just meet our taste at a given moment when we are in the mood for honey or maybe peat/smoke.
Cheers!
Hi all.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first ever Glenfiddich a month ago.
It was the Rich Oak wich is 100% supersmooth and great tasting.
As my curiosity towards Glenfiddich grew i bought the 15 yo last week and have been drinking a couple of drams since then.
If the ratings of the Rich Oak would be approximately 95/100 this would get perhaps 90/100.
It is a very nice dram without to much fuzz going on.
It is sweet, a hint of oak and cherry with a very pleasant finish.
For the price i would give it a full score.
Very very good whisky without any real character except the smoothness.
A whisky made for everyone, all the time.
I have opened this bottle of Glenffidich 15 years which I have kept for more than 15 years in my wine cabinet, and it still gives me the same sensations mentioned in this review. Not a regular drinker but I can tell a good single malt from an average one.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to taste a better one.
Nice review. Your love of scotch shows. I am new to the world of quality scotch, and this Glenfiddich 15yr solera reserve is going to be my first bottle.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Hi UNO!
ReplyDeleteGlenfiddich 15 will not disappoint!
Cheers!
I have not tried Grant's and I will take your advise and stay away. Since the Glenfiddich 12 was the first single malt I've ever tried so its sort of a special one. I recently decided to buy the 15 year old based off of your recommendation. I agree you... much better quality than the 12 year old.
ReplyDelete-Marius
I havent tried the 15 year old one, but the 12 year old is not to my liking. It has a bite and aftertaste that is not smooth at all. I have tried a few other whiskies in my life, but the 12 year old im skipping forgood.
ReplyDeleteThe 15 is a world of difference from the 12. The 15 will impress! Give it a try.
ReplyDeleteJá esperimentei o Glenfiddich 12 anos e até certo ponto me surpreendeu, o seu sabor de peras e carvalho são interessantes, mas nem sempre aceitaveis ao meu paladar dependendo do dia...o Glenfiddich 15, está em minha lista para uma futura compra...gostei bastande do Green Label, as vezes indentifico os sabores de contraste ente o doce e o salgado, carvalho é supreendente a turfa é suave, achei uma boa escolha...um outro que tem preferencia em meu bar é o Famous Grouse 12 anos Malt, é facinante. Teria como você realizar uma revisão desta mistura malt o Famous Grouse 12 malt..Att Alex
ReplyDeleteHere's a translation of what Alex wrote:
ReplyDeleteSince the l'adresse Glenfiddich 12 years and to some extent surprised me, the taste of pears and oak are interesting, but not always acceptable to my taste, depending on the day ... the Glenfiddich 15, is on my list for a future purchase .. . bastande liked the Green Label, sometimes identifies the contrast between the flavors of sweet and salty, oak is surprising peat is soft, I found a good choice ... one that has my bar is preferably in the Famous Grouse Malt 12 years , is fascinating. How you would conduct a review of this mix the Famous Grouse Malt 12 Malt ..
I am Scotch sipping newbie and currently have Bushmills Blackbush, Jameson 12, Johnnie Walker Green and Glenfiddich 15 in my cabinet. I can enjoy each of them straight up but the Jameson is better over ice. Where to from here? From a $/drink perspective, whiskey sipping is better than wine.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest (based on what you are drinking now) to next try GlenDronach 12 years. It is always reasonably priced and I think a little different from what you are currently drinking. The GlenDronach is sherried, dark fruit, plums, etc and not offensive in any way, but still interesting.
ReplyDeleteA cheap blend that I highly recommend is Te Bheag, but it can be hard to come by. Not easily available in the US.
A little more challenging single malt that you might consider eventually is Highland Park 12 years. Here again it is sherried but with lots of smoke and toffee.
Finally, a cheapie but pretty good bang for the buck is Glenlivet 12 yrs.
As for the money for value analysis of whisky versus wine, you are absolutely right. I used to be a wine nut, but eventually the money of that habit lost out to the love and relative affordability of whisky.
Thanks for commenting!
The in-laws have always given me a bottle of Glenfiddich 12 every yr for my birthday. Oh how I wish I could get them to buy the 15 instead. Here in VA., the 15 is usually about $52 a bottle. At Christmas time we were in Florida and I found the 15 for $35 a bottle. I came home with 10 bottles. I've tried dozens of single malts but for the price I still prefer the Glenfiddich 15.
ReplyDelete$35 a bottle is an excellent price, as you clearly appreciated and capitalized on by buying a few.
DeleteAs I have mentioned before, I really think Glenfiddich 15 is underrated. Because it is so widely available, people may think it can't be that good. Of course, it is.
If only more people would venture from the 12 to the 15.
Cheers!
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a review on this malt, after spending a lot of time with it. Let me know what you think.
Cheers mate!
Jason,
ReplyDeletePlease don't ever again suggest that any producer of Scotch whisky could raise their prices. Most of it is already hideously overpriced as anyone living in Canada will attest.
Chris.
Fair comment Chris. Prices in Canada are ridiculous, but as you know, it is due to taxes and government owned liquor stores marking up profits. If we had a free market system for the sale of spirits in Canada, we would see prices fall, sales go up, and in my opinion, tax revenue increase (due to higher sales volume).
ReplyDelete