Head to Head #3: Oh Deer: Glenfiddich

Glenfiddich (actual font) is the best selling single malt Scotch in the world.  Along with Balvenie, Mortlach, and several others, Glenfiddich is located in Dufftown in Moray, Scotland.  Its name means “valley of the deer” literally, but a river called Fiddich (a tributary of the Spey) runs through Dufftown as well.  At any rate, this whole range is easy to find and popular.  So, making use of a set of three minis, here are my notes on Glenfiddich at 12, 15, and 18 years of age.

1)      12

2)      15

3)      18

Color

1)      Light, middle-aged Chardonnay

2)      Slightly darker, new copper penny

3)      Slightly darker than that, but barely

Nose

1)      Malt, lemonade, alcohol

2)      Caramel, lemon curd

3)      Lemon meringue, caramel, wood

On the Palate

1)      Lemonheads, burn

2)      Rich, caramel sweetness

3)      Lemon Poppy seed muffins, thick, rich caramel

Finish

1)      Lightly sweet, then surprisingly spicy

2)      Thick and sweet, caramel, then long, slow burn

3)      Creamy, sweet, soft

Parting Words

1)      Pleasant summer pour.  Will work at the bar in a pinch.

2)      More depth, but the distillery character still comes through.

3)      Almost indistinguishable from the 15, but with slightly more depth and sweetness.  Not sure if it would be worth the extra money to jump up to the 18.

I gotta say, I prefered the Balvenie line overall and I would rank any of those over any of these.  Still, my issue with Glenfiddich is a matter of taste, not quality.  It’s just not my cup of tea.