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Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Distillery Edition

Too good to be neglected

2 988

@Robert99Review by @Robert99

2nd Dec 2017

0

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Distillery Edition
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    88

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

There is some whisk(e)y that are very good but not flashy in anyway. When you are drinking one of them, you may say to yourself that it is better than you were expecting even if you have known it for years.

Glenfiddich 15 yo DE, is one of these whiskies. Mayba because the 12 is such a reference to the entry level we are snobbing the older brother, I don't know. What I do know is that at 51% ABV, this DE is worthy of my attention and is not an entry level whisky.

Nose

I have an evolving nose here. At the beginning, I have oak, honey, kumquat orange and honeysuckle. After a few minutes it is going toward the sherry in that I have cayenne, ginger, allspice, mint and eucalyptus. The mint and eucalyptus are quite similar to the same notes in an high rye content bourbon. Finally, the nose end on some cedar and dried leaves.

Palate

The sherry is more forward now but is mixing itself very well with the oak and the honey. I find caramel in the sweetness of it and some bitter wood but well balanced. The palate is not as round as the nose mainly at the end when the sweetness loose ground to an aggressive mix of cayenne and ginger. The orange, kumquat, mint and eucalyptus are not as strong on the palate as on the nose making the palate less complex than the nose. After a while, I've got some lemon and terragon with my sips and the allspice is mixed with a hint of cinnamon. If I am swallowing my sip without making it swirl there is a nice candied orange

Finish

At the beginning it is a bit bitter. I don't mind but some will. On the long run, the honey and the leaves are playing their role and remind you that it is a Glenfiddich. When I breathe, I get the kumquat and orange back.

Balance

This bottle has been opened for many years and never beeen gased. Surprinsingly, it is still very close to what it was. The balance is fantastic on the nose, there is short time where the bitterness will bother a few on the palate and the finish pass from being ok to great with time.

Conclusion

I have neglacted this bottle for way too long. It is an all around player with great balance. I often find that the very well balance and complex dram received reactions like blend. They are neglected because they are not flashy. This one though as big enough flavors not to be bland and should receive proper attention.

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9 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@Robert99 I completely agree with you. This is an overlooked gem. 51% ABV, NCF. I am on my third bottle over the course of about 4 years. When I remember to pour a dram I am always pleasantly surprised. It is almost in the same league as the old Nadurra 16; kind of a Nadurra light, but not too light. An excellent dram that should be in every respectable cabinet.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@Robert99, thanks for your nice review.

Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Edition is my Glenfiddich of choice.

6 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@BlueNote Are you saying I don't have a respectable cabinet?

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@Nozinan No way, my friend. I have massive cabinet envy when I look at yours. (that sounds a bit weird, but you know what I mean).

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@BlueNote I know what you mean. Of all the Glenfiddichs this is probably the only one within my price range that I would actually want to try, and possibly own if I like it. I never got around to getting it when it was here and reasonably priced. Sad fact, but there are enough others to keep me happy.

6 years ago 0

@Robert99
Robert99 commented

@BlueNote Comparing the Nadurra 16 and the DE is like comparing New World wine with French wine. The first has the in your face flavors style, the second is more like a gift you have to unwrap. It's a matter of taste.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@jsilevinac
jsilevinac commented

Is this expression no longer available? The only thing I see in New England retail stores is the 15 Solera Reserve

6 years ago 0

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@Robert99 Good point. I know it was a bit of a stretch making that comparison. I was thinking it might have been 'Fiddich's attempt to do something comparable to Glenlivet's incomparable Nadurra 16 of which I have three safely bunkered.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

@jsilevinac The last one I got was in Oregon but it's no longer listed there. I can't find it anywhere else either. It looks like it might be a goner now that Glenfiddich (and the industry in general) are putting out all these overpriced NAS offerings. Too bad, but part of the current trend to downplay the importance of age.

6 years ago 0