The Glenfiddich Tasting - 21st June - 7pm

[Dram fine idea]

Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 yo

Nose Initially oranges, fudge, soft, gentle, alluring

Taste Same as above, also some spice, oak. It might be the sherry that makes it slightly cluttered (in my opinion). However the oranges and spice get it through (possibly just).

Finish More of the same.

Comment I've made a few already. Some love the sherry, I don't love it as much. Even though, a good dram.

[Matt2]

I really like the idea of the Solera and really enjoyed it, remember having a few after whisky live in the bar.

[arkle]

Re-tasting the Special Reserve with a dash of water; it brings out the wood,and increases the spicy/pecil sharpenings element, in fact it improves the whole experience,how odd, with the strength being 40% I wouldnt have expected that.

[Ryguy]

Now pouring a 2nd sample of the 15yo Solera, my notes are written, but I really enjoyed this, and want to add more to my note before posting.

[lohssanami]

Here is my lineup, and I just opened the 12 Special Reserve first.



Nose: ryguy...I do catch the apples you mention, but it smells like green ones here.

Taste: I seem to get more apples on the tongue with it not lasting too long. Little hint of honey.

Finish: Far too short of a finish for me, but nice while it's there.

[Ryguy]

Nice lineup there lohssanami! I'll be moving onto the 18yo shortly. I'm stuck on the 15yo, I had to pour a 2nd dram. I really enjoyed this compared the 12yo Spec Res and 12yo New Label.

[Ryguy]

Glenfiddich 15yo Solera Reserve 40%

Glass: Glencairn
Color: Light amber
Water: None

Nose: Oooooh....based on the nose I cannot wait to try this! Much more depth than the 12yo. Vanilla notes and something very rich, perhaps chocolate.

Palate: Still light bodied, yet much more involved. I can clearly see the sherry and bourbon casks being represented here. There is still a little bit of the citrus, but not much. Then the vanilla and mocha start

Finish: Sweet and rounding with some carmel, definitely longer than the 12yo.

Many thanks to OKDiver1 for this sample!!

[arkle]

Just poured the 18, I'll wait to taste it with you.

[Reggaeblues]

Greetings - and many thanks for thew samples. Have to rush out for a gig. will look in @ 1 am.

Can't wait!!

[Ryguy]

Poured yes a 3rd dram of the 15, this one being a small one. After reading arkles post of adding water, I added about 1/2 cap to this.

It has brought out more of the oak on the nose and it's definitely gotten more sweeter. I wouldn't have thought this at all. I really thought at 40% water would kill this, and just dilute it, but I was wrong. The finish is gone with water, but the into is definitely sweeter. Interesting.

[arkle]

Lovely nose, just close your eyes and inhale ,you could be in a warehouse surrounded by the nectar, wonderful....

[Ryguy]

Just poured the 18, I'll wait to taste it with you.

Cheers arkle, pouring the 18 now.

[Matt2]

Ians internet connection has stopped working and he can't get online. He sends his appologies and will answer all your questions when he can get online again, and I'm sure he will be around next week to carry on with the topic.

[Ryguy]

Thank you for the reply Matt. I look foward to reading what he has to say, and the answers to the many questions.

Don't forget everyone, feel free to ask Ian questions.

[TreacleSponge]

Lovely nose, just close your eyes and inhale ,you could be in a warehouse surrounded by the nectar, wonderful....

That's convinced me to catch up!

[arkle]

Just noticed something green in the glass of Special reserve.... its a a large chunk of glass sheared off from the thread of the bottle!! (its a 35cl with a screw top,) good job I didnt swallow it!(might not have noticed it after a few more

[Ryguy]

Lovely nose, just close your eyes and inhale ,you could be in a warehouse surrounded by the nectar, wonderful....

That's convinced me to catch up!

Yummmm, poured the 18, much more powerful nose compared to the previous 3 I had. Wait til you taste it!

[Ryguy]

Just noticed something green in the glass of Special reserve.... its a a large chunk of glass sheared off from the thread of the bottle!! (its a 35cl with a screw top,) good job I didnt swallow it!(might not have noticed it after a few more

Careful there arkle!

[Matt2]

Onto the 18 now, the nose is richer but more restrained, subtle sweet woodish notes, almost balsa wood. You can tell its the same whisky but with each new age you get another layer. Going from the 15 to the 18 is a good example of wood coming through and getting a deeper slightly more oily whisky. Becoming dryer on the finish.

[arkle]

Hi Treacle,
Unfortunately the nose is the best bit....
The palate is a bit of a let down?

[lohssanami]

Ok...finally poured the 15, and here's a look.



This is definitely a sweeter and more interesting nose than the 12.

Tastes a bit more complex as well.

The finish is definitley on the mind longer, and I think I will revisit this one more during the week.

[TreacleSponge]

Hi Treacle,
Unfortunately the nose is the best bit....
The palate is a bit of a let down?

Yes - isn't it strange? All those promises of things to come that, well, just don't.

[TreacleSponge]

Nose: A little wood. Apples & oranges. A bit of sweet wine?
Palate: Sweet raisins, chocolate fudge
Finish: A little bit herby then a bit of a ginger kick
Comment: As with the 12, expected bigger flavours after that nose.

Poured the 21 now cos I feel a bit tricked by that 18 Maybe I'll come back to it

[Dram fine idea]

GF 18 year old Glencairn glass (as always), no water

Nose - Initially, pungent Sanguinello oranges, reminds me of Twinings Cranberry & Sanguinello Orange fruit tea which I enjoy. But hold on and the oak comes along later, with some smoke

Taste Again the oranges hit hard, and there is also oak and spice, a touch of sherry but much less than the 15 solera. I really enjoy holding onto this one.

Finish The tang of the orange, the taste lingers, the smoke appears, and this is gentle, warming and dry at the end.

Comment Depth and complexity, I really enjoy this dram. Brilliant!

[lohssanami]

Drats...I have to finish this one and check out. I'll try to jump on later to try the 18.

Hopefully it doesn't let me down.

[Ryguy]

Hi Treacle,
Unfortunately the nose is the best bit....
The palate is a bit of a let down?

arkle, give it another go with a 2nd dram. I felt the same way and went back to it again. No water here though, as it didn't improve it at all. My note is up next.

[Ryguy]

Glenfiddich 18yo Ancient Reserve 43%

Glass: Glencairn
Water: None
Color: Amber gold

Nose: Rich and warming, definitely oak with some sweet spices in the background as well. Hints of orange peels.

Palate: Mixed spices including cinnamon (like a hot ball). Does anyone know what I'm talking about here? Strange, not what I expected after the nose, but interesting and good. The sherry and wood comes through late, also with a hint of brown sugar.

Finish: By far the most complex, and it's what I expected after 18 years. A mix of the spices and wood appear throughout the finish, and more of the sherry is present.

Thanks again to Ganga for this sample!!!

[Dram fine idea]

Well it seems like I'm the only one who really digs the 18 and can not get excited by the 15!

Life's rich tapistry ...enjoy the difference! Going onto the 21 soon.

[arkle]

18yo
Palate, spicy,cinnamon,alittle drying wood/astringency
Finish,medium but nothing to write home about, drying at the end,and a little orangedark chocolate, but the noe promised so much more.
Comment, Disappointing, there was so much promise from the nose but it was 'Thin' on the mouthfeel.

[arkle]

Hi RyGuy
I notice that my 18 Ancient Reserve is 40%, not 43% like yours,could explain things?

[Dram fine idea]

oops spoke too soon looks like ryguy agrees with me (i agree with the orange peel)

[Ryguy]

Hi RyGuy
I notice that my 18 Ancient Reserve is 40%, not 43% like yours,could explain things?

I only have a sample, and the ABV isn't labeled on it. The WM website shows the 18 Ancient Res at 43%. So that is what I was going by. Lohssanami, can you clarify this, what does your bottle say? It could be a USA / UK thing, where bottles ABV are sometimes different.

[les taylor]

Hi everybody 0-0 at halftime Russia on top. Going into the 12. Thanks Matt for the samples this week. Looking forward to the 30 later.

[Matt2]

21 yo
The nose seems to have a really powerful alcohol kick to it, but all sorts of fruity bits coming through. A drop of water really opens it up, almonds, marzipan, quite candied and sweet. Palete is full and coating, nice richness to the fruity notes, dryer on the finish.

The 18 seems to be an exercise in that point where a whisky is changing, gaining the wood influence. The 21 is now really developing that with other flavours.

Very nice, worth leaving it for those extra 3 years

[Ryguy]

oops spoke too soon looks like ryguy agrees with me (i agree with the orange peel)

DFI - Yes indeed, very yummy. In fact I took a nice 2nd dram as well, different glass. Notes to follow.

Cheers,
Ryan