Glenfiddich Whisky & Glenlivet Whisky – December Double Tasting
It is Saturday the 10th of December and only two week until Christmas Eve. The three Whisky Boys are at Jim’s sitting around the tasting table with two drams about to be tasted.
The first is a Glenfiddich Whisky 15 Year Old (this one from Nicola’s stock purchased en-route back from Las Vegas) and the second is a bottle of Glenlivet Whisky 15 Year Old.
So, our first bottle to be opened was the Glenfiddich Whisky.
If you have a wee look at our tasting of the fine Glenfiddich 12 Year Old you can read all about this great old Distillery.
The Glenfiddich Distillery,
Dufftown,
Banffshire,
AB55 4DH
Owners, William Grant & Sons
telephone 01340 820373
website www.glenfiddich.com
We would recommend all to visit Glenfiddich’s website as it is a good and informative one, including a visit to their shop.
Without further ado let the tasting begin.
The tasting.
Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky 15 Years Old 43% Vol/alc.
This richly layered award winning Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch whisky is matured in three types of oak cask: sherry, bourbon and new oak, before being married in our unique, handcrafted Solera vat. The Solera vat is never emptied but is always kept at least half full. Here, flavours are harmoniously married, creating a Whisky of character and intense complexity.
Colour…Christmas chestnut with golden tips.
Jim’s tasting.
Nose…Sweet dried fruits with honey and a touch of Bourbon showing a little.
Taste…Cannot get away from the dried fruit and sherry, full bodied and ultra smooth.
Finnish…Long and sweet with a little touch of caramel, a complex beauty.
Score…3.5 corks.
Nicola’s tasting.
Nose…Lightly sherry soaked raisins.
Taste…Fruity and sweet, a delight to taste and enjoy, liken to a sherry trifle.
Finish…Medium to long, smooth, with a slight spicy twist.
Score…3.5 corks.
Dougie’s tasting.
Nose…Light sherry and dried fruit with a sprinkle of gentle spices.
Taste…Well rounded, sweet, with citrus notes and sparkly oak spices dancing over the tongue.
Finish…Long, sweet, spice and orange zest with a light sprinkle of salt at the end. “Keep them coming like that, Jim”
Score…3.5 corks.
Overall score…3.5 corks
Well that went down very well, a great wee tasting and we all agreed that is does not surprise us that Glenfiddich is on top spot for World sales of Single Malt Scotch Whisky based on market share.
This top spot is not a surprise to the Whisky Boys as this gentle dram is enjoyable at any time, all day dram, aperitif, after dinner, celebration or to order at the bar. A genuine all rounder.
Now it is time for each of us to rinse out our tasting glass and prepare to open our second bottle of the evening, The Glenlivet 15 Year Old. This is a litre bottle that Jim had in his cupboard and we believe is only available at retail travel outlets.
One of Scotland’s most famous Malts, perhaps on account of the story of George Smith, an illegal distiller in Speyside who went legit when he obtained the first license to legally distill Whisky in 1824. For many years afterwards he had to carry a pair of pistols to protect himself and his family from his aggrieved erstwhile colleagues, the moonshiners, but the quality of his spirit quickly made him and his distillery famous.
Glenlivet Distillery,
Ballindalloch,
Banffshire AB37 9DB
telephone 01340 821720
website www.theglenlivet.com
Location: B9008, ten miles north of Tomintoul.
Owners, Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
The distillery is now closed for the winter and will reopen on Monday 29th March 2010. Again we must recommend that you visit this very good and informative site, and a visit to the on-line shop would not go amiss.
Let the tasting begin.
The tasting.
The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years 40% Vol/alc
Colour…Pale golden straw
Jim’s tasting.
Nose…Rich with fresh fruit, and a touch of wood chips.
Taste…Smooth with oak showing, a little creamy but not too complex.
Finish…Medium and light with a slight tingle left on the tongue.
Score…3.5 corks.
Nicola’s tasting.
Nose…Light and floral
Taste…Smooth and spicy with a great creamy taste, and maybe a touch of smoke in there.
Finish…Medium and pleasant, would be enjoyed anywhere.
Score…3.5 corks.
Dougie’s tasting.
Nose…Light, fruity with ripe pears and some pear drops in there.
Taste…Smooth with light wood spices and a hint of gun smoke.
Finish…Medium, delicate with fresh greenhouse leafy floral notes.
Score…3.5 corks.
Overall score…3.5 corks
Another great Speyside to add to our collection, could hardly fault this smashing wee dram, and like the Glenfiddich it can be drank at any time or occasion. You may be asking yourselves, well you have tasted both these fabulous nips and did one come out in front of the other? The Whisky Boys thought that too, so we did sit for a further wee while and discussed these two Malts.
We could not split them, but if really, really pushed we would give it to Glenfiddich, but this is by the smallest of margins, so our way out of this is that certainly Jim and Dougie will ensure that both these drams are representated in each of our cabinets.
Happy dramming to you all.
