Glenfiddich 15 y.o. Distillery Edition
51% abv
Score: 87.5/100
Yes! Yes! Yes! Even the mighty Glenfiddich, from its soaring battlements and seemingly inpregnable walls, is hearing the battle cry. The seiging masses below – calling for a less adulterated malt and a more hefty offering – have been bombarding the industry for years now and I would unequivocally argue…are winning. Here, I believe, is the end result of the efforts of bloggers, vloggers and tweeters (oh my!).
It would seem our voices have carried well enough to get the message across. This is impressive. If you’re anything like me, you’re so used to the watered down run-o’-the-mill presentation of the Glenfiddich core range that this will come as a truly welcome gift. While I do have a healthy level of respect for the distillery, I won’t suggest our relationship at this point is based on anything other than just that. Respect.
But there’s more to my appreciation of this particular 15 year old Distillery Edition than just it’s presentation. To me this represents potential. Knowing as we do just how big Glenfiddich is, can you even conceive of the ‘whisky world’ implications if a distillery as forefront as this were to declare 46% their minimum abv offering? Sigh. If only…
Anyway, daydreaming aside, this is a damn good whisky. It’s not great, but it is an absolutely worthwhile purchase and one to keep on the shelf. The distillery’s profile is not likely one that will ever truly excite me, but it’s crispy clean fruits and blemish-free veneer make it an easy dram to approach on any occasion for any drinker. So, while I concede I’m not the biggest Glenfiddich fan, this one does come highly recommended.
Nose: Caramel apple. Pepper. Wow…would not expect this in a Glenfiddich. Creamy and balanced. Fudgy. Vanilla. Come cocoa. Nice spices and dried flowers. Salty dough.
Palate: Apple slices in chocolate. Vanilla cream. Dash of pepper and clove. Some nice lively fruit notes. Spicy. Great mouthfeel. Pleasant and drinkable. Oak and apple back notes. Slight floral overtones. Nice hold at the end.
Shows there can be more to Glenfiddich than just homogeneity and fat sales.
– Reviewed by: Curt
– Photo: Curt
All Things Whisky 
Surprisingly, I’m skeptical For a few reasons:
1. The LCBO lists it for the same price as KWM.. That the LCBO would stock a good less common expression AND have it at a reasonable price would be extremely unusual.
2. I’ve never tasted anything by Glenfiddich that I enjoyed. Mind you, I left them behind in 2011 when my palate was in its infancy. So I concede that a more experienced palate might find something good.
That said, if Ariel Sharon could redefine himself from a Hawk into a peacemaker (again, I’m skeptical), a mediocre distillery could, I suppose, put out something exceptional.
Skeptic
As above…’damn good’, ‘not great’.
Whether we like ‘Fiddich or not, the fact of the matter is their whisky is certainly not bad, it’s just a little…tame.
Skepticism is warranted. Do try it though, of the opportunity presents.
You are right to be skeptical of this bottle. I bought it at LCBO because it was priced only $3 over the Solera 15 and offered higher abv. Not a fan, although I can’t say I am a fan of Glenfiddich at all. Tried their 18 and wasn’t impressed there either. I was hoping this bottle would comparable to Nadurra and it doesn’t come close.
I am absolutely in love with this bottling. It has reminded me why I love Scotch so much in the first place.
I think Glenfiddich’s reputation precedes it, and some people may tend to pre-judge it as “tame” or “simple” because that’s what your supposed to think about it. Simply put, it’s not fashionable to gush over Glenfiddich unless you are a noob. But to each his own. I actually enjoyed this a lot more than Nadurra.
I also enjoyed this one. Tasted it at a friends house, thought it was a solid SM for the price.
As stated above it is not as good as the Nadurra 16 but still pretty good stuff.