While trying out the Glenlivet XXV and Bowmore 25 again today at an LCBO, I came across the Glenfiddich 18 year old which is done in the same style as the amazing Bowmore and the highly regarded Macallans – triple cask aged in oak, sherry and bourbon barrels. I am particularly convinced it is the bourbon barrels that make the Bowmore 25 so smooth on the finish.
My research shows Glenfiddich is a very big house with a lot of production and is a standard whisky on shelves everywhere. They’re like the Remy Martin or Courvoisier of the whisky world. Unlike those cognac makers who charge double the price of an equivalent quality lesser-known house, Glenfiddich seems to take the opposite tack and charge much less than an equivalent quality lesser-known distiller.
So the Glenfiddich 18 clocks in at $101 CDN compared to the Bowmore 18 at $130 CDN and Glenlivet 21 at 154.50 CDN. What? At first i was jumping for joy thinking amazing QPR whisky value here… until I saw the incredibly mixed reviews for the Glenfiddich line of whiskies.
Despite this, the hate for them is quite palpable with a simple Google search. I have yet to come across as divisive and vitriolic a whisky as the Glenfiddichs. A few love, many hate, and even in the positive reviews I find that quite a few damn the whisky with faint praise using phrases like “Very safe but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad whisky at all” and “Great whisky to get beginners into” and “Makes a reasonably good gift at Christmas”. Ouch.
So how do you guys feel about the Glenfiddich line? Should I snap it up or leave it on the shelf?
First, I would actually suggest that the smoothness you feel is more due to the fact of the age and the strong influence of sherry cask in all the bottlings. Bourbon casks tends to let the new make spirit/‘distillery character’ shine through; i.e. for some to seem more spirity. That being said I think of Glenlivet as a smoother character from start.
As for the suggestion whether to buy Glenfiddich I don’t think I can help you much, although I don’t feel you get the same character or complexity as the Glenlivet or Bowmore, it is a sweet and easy drinking dram, to each his own! Best way is just to explore by drinking, get samples or make sure to try out at bars or restaurants. Should say I think the price for the Glenfiddich is a bit steep.
If you like the sweeter and smoother drams there are points of references if you’re new to whisky, that can be good to go through such as the Balvenie 12 year olds: Signature is a like abovementioned a vatting between Sherry, Bourbon first fill and Bourbon refill or the sweeter Doublewood both fairly good places to start as a point of reference, the triple-distilled lowlander Auchentoshan Three Wood and so on.
But for some more personal recommendations and the fact that the above, like Glenfiddich, for me get tiresome I’d advise you to some speysiders such as the Glendronach 18 yo great value (the 12 and 15 yo are good as well), Longmorn 12 yo is an good value for its price, Aberlour 16 yo or their sherry monster A’Bunadh , Ballantine’s 17 yo is a great blended whisky, Dalmore 12 yo is a great sherried dram and the Glen Garioch is a Highland distillery that has risen remarkably in quality as of late and their 12 yo is great, the Tomatin 12 yo or even the family-owned Glenfarclas make a great range and their 15 yo is good for its price. And if you wanna spend within the same bracket as what you’ve drunk above: Highland Park 18, 21 (the 47,5% one, if you can find it) or the more raw expression of the 25 yo, the Macallan 18 yo Sherry Cask is a fantastic whisky and still a must for sherry lovers, further independent bottler Gordon MacPhail bottles some really nice and less expensive Macallan such as the 1990 Speymalt, and has great stocks of Strathisla: the 30 yo is a fantastic value but hard to find or vintage bottlings from both Stratishla, Longmorn and Mortlach etc, Ardbeg Uigeadail is smoke heaven, and Talisker 18 yo or Laphroaig’s by the same age, Old Pulteney 21 yo for the sea breeze… Can go on but don’t want to ramble away more than I already have! Sure more will help and correct me! All the best in finding new Scottish drams and please do tell us about them when you do!
Thanks for the response, Christofer. Given your location, your input is particularly valuable.
Okay, the Glenfiddich 18 is on “the list” but not as a priority. While I love The Bowmore 25 and The Glenlivet XXV they are out of my affordable range at $400 CDN apiece roughly. After having had a few more samples, I have settled on acquiring as many affordable 21 year olds
“The list” right now is composed of the following choices:
Glenlivet Archive 21 years old
Tomintoul 21 Year Old
Glen Grant 21 year old
Glenfiddich 18 years old
Bowmore 18 years old
Glendronach 18 years old
Bruichladdich 18 years old
Arbelour 18 years old
Highland Park18 years old
I do find that I have a preference for sweeter, creamier and non-peated whiskies. Or at least easier on the peat if there is some.
I’ve also decided to forgoe the 12 year olds in favor of longer aged whiskies the same way I skip VSOP brandy, cognac and armagnac and go right for the XO and above. I find the higher quality is worth the higher price.
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