Editor’s Note: This whisky was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Glenfiddich – derived from Gaelic Gleann Fhiodhaich, meaning “valley of the deer.” This is reflected in the iconic stag logo on the bottle. Accompanying the iconic gold stag, is the triangular bottle design. The Grant’s launched the triangular bottle in 1956. The iconic bottle was designed by Hans Schleger.
Founded in 1886 by William Grant (who also founded Balvenie distillery), Glenfiddich is a Speyside distillery. In the 1950’s the Grant family built an onsite coppersmith to maintain the copper stills of the distillery. Copper stills continue to be in use to today.
The Glenfiddich 12 is part of the “flagship” line, which includes a 14 year bourbon barrel, 15 year Solera cask, 18 year small back, and 23 year “grand cru”. Glenfiddich has put out older scotches. In 2016, for example, a bottle of Glenfiddich distilled in 1937 set a record at auction when it sold for £68,500.00 British pounds.
Glenfiddich is a single malt Scotch whisky, which means a single distiller and malted barley. Scotch whisky is regulated under the United Kingdom’s Scotch Whisky Regulations. Glenfiddich is what’s known as a Speyside style whisky. There are five distinct regions for Scotch production, though many enthusiasts will insist there are sub-regions within each region. The five main regions are: Highland, Lowland, Campbelltown, Speyside, and Islay.
The Speyside region is identified by the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey in northeastern Scotland. More critically, Speyside is a “protected region” under the UK Scotch Whisky Regulation. Something unique is the Speyside region is encompassed entirely by the Highland region, and therefore a Speyside is legally allowed to classify itself as either a Speyside or Highland if it wishes. The reverse is not applicable.
As an entry level expression, it’s important to understand, from this reviewer’s perspective, the whisky should give you a glimpse into what the distillery can do. 12 years, for a scotch, is relatively young. Scotch is often aged in what are known as Dunnage rickhouses. Dunnage warehouses are low-rise stone or brick buildings with earthen floors. Casks are simply stacked on top of one another, with a maximum capacity of three high, or with the use of a Dunnage rack.
By comparison bourbon uses a racked warehouse, which can exceed 9 stories, with barrels stacked on rails. The difference in barrel type and rickhouse means Scotch matures slowly compared to its American counterpart. All this is to say a 12-year Scotch is just the beginning of what the distillery can offer.
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As for what I’m reviewing here, the Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is as straight up as a Scotch as you can get, aged at least a dozen years in oak barrels before being bottled.
With that, we turn to the glass.
Tasting Notes: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
Vital Stats: SRP $49.99. 40% Abv.
Color: Honey
Nose: Initially I found light clove honey, like you just added honey to a cup of hot water. The honey gives way to very faint smoke, but as the glass warms in your hand you find pear, white wine, alcohol. I couldn’t shake a small of agave nectar bordering on tequila.
Taste: Extremely smooth and watery mouthfeel, before a hit of charcoal at the back of the throat. On the tongue, I found honeydew melon, smoke and white sugar. I did find some salt brine on the back portion of the taste. It all comes across extremely quickly and is very smooth, but the finish just simply disappears and leaves very little on the palate.
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