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Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch Whiskey
About Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch
Following the review of Batch & Bottle Scotch Manhattan a few years ago, I kept telling myself I should properly experience a Glenfiddich Scotch. And since I recently saw Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch Whiskey available in 325 ml bottles, I no longer have any excuses.
At this point, I’ve experienced a handful of products from William Grant & Sons, but Glenfiddich is where the story begins. After a year of manually building a distillery alongside his children, William Grant was finally ready to realize his dream of creating his own whisky in 1887. He named it Glenfiddich, the Gaelic word for Valley of the Deer, and it’s one of the few remaining family-owned and operated single malt Scotch distilleries.
Glenfiddich 12 Year is the most affordable offering in their line of Scotches. The spirit is aged for 12 years in Oloroso sherry casks and ex-Bourbon casks, before mellowing in oak marrying tuns.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
❖ Distillery: Glenfiddich Distillery
❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
❖ Aged 12 Years
❖ Lower Moderate Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Gold
❖ Nose: Apple, Pear, Cereal
❖ Taste: Pear, Apple, Butterscotch, Oak
❖ Finish: Long, Malt, Subtle Fruit and Vanilla
Cocktail
Cherry Whiskey Fizz
Ingredients
- 2 oz Whisky
- 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 3 Pitted and Halved Cherries
- Club Soda*
Instructions
- Add cherries to a glass, lightly muddle, and add ice.
- Add whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and whip shake to chill.
- Strain into the glass, top with club soda, and garnish with a sprig of mint
Notes
*I made my own club soda with the Sodastream (paid Amazon link).
Typically, I would prefer to use a single malt Scotch in a spirit forward cocktail. But lately, the weather has been nice, so I was interested in making a more refreshing and easy to drink cocktail. I also had some lemons, cherries, and mint that were on the verge of going bad, so I threw together this recipe for a Cherry Whiskey Fizz. Although this type of cocktail might be more suited to a bourbon, I was still curious how the fruit notes from Glenfiddich 12 Year would pair with some fresh cherries.
The cocktail didn’t turn out exactly as I had hoped, but it’s still quite refreshing. Despite the subtle hint of fruit from the Glenfiddich, the cherry flavor takes over. I was hoping for a more balanced blend, but at least the cherry works well with the malted grain flavor from the Scotch. I was a bit worried this combination of ingredients would have a cough syrup taste, but I think the cherry flavor remains natural.
Bottom Line
RATING: 4/5
Each time I try a new affordably priced spirit, I keep hoping to be blown away. But the search for my perfect bargain bottle will have to continue, because I thought, despite generally enjoying the flavor, that Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch was only just pretty good.
When I initially purchased Glenfiddich 12 Year, I didn’t notice it was partially aged in sherry casks. After my recent experience with Angel’s Envy, I was a bit worried, but I much prefer the balance of flavors in Glenfiddich. I think it’s because the flavor progresses slowly from fruit to butterscotch and oak, to malted grain with a hint of fruit, so I’m able to appreciate each stage fully. In fact, I think it’s great introduction to Scotch whisky, because the flavors are much more approachable, so you can get used to the distinct grain flavor of scotch. The 40% ABV also contributes to the pleasant experience because there isn’t much heat from the alcohol.
While the flavor experience is generally pleasant, I still wish it was slightly more complex and exciting. I think this is the only thing that keeps Glenfiddich 12 Year Scotch from being a must try. But, the straight-forward flavor does mean it’s easier to use in cocktails. And although the price isn’t cheap enough to compete with many bourbons or blended scotches, it’s still on the low end for single malt Scotches.
As always, drink responsibly.
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