Glenfiddich 15 Year Old - Our Solera Fifteen
Glenfiddich may well be the most famous name in single malt Scottish whisky. Only The Glenlivet comes close in terms of output, but Glenfiddich pairs its vast production with marketing and presentation that’s often a cut above the rest, whether it’s to your taste or not. Just take a look at their website or the stunning artwork on the presentation box for this 15 Year Old and you’ll see what I mean.
A few weeks ago I tried one of the bottlings from their experimental series: Project XX. It was genuinely interesting and made me want to revisit the dram that arguably sits at the heart of their core offering - the 15 year old. Let’s see what it’s like.
Bottle
Glenfiddich’s signature triangular bottle is instantly recognisable. Coupled with the debossed arrow (or “v”) and the gold stag crest on the front, it is a sleek, modern, and undeniably beautiful design. While the glossy black version used for Project XX is striking, I much prefer being able to see the spirit inside, and thankfully, it is fully on display here. The label is modest and, again, strikes a perfect balance between contemporary and classic styling. I don’t usually mention the presentation box, and I know they are often dismissed as unnecessary, but this one is genuinely eye-catching. The purple colour grabs your attention straight away, but it’s the intricate stag artwork that really stands out. Composed of various floral elements, the design is stunning. Created by Raku Inoue for Lunar New Year 2024, this image appears across much of the range, but in my view, it looks especially fabulous in lilac.
Colour
As you might expect from a distillery that produces spirit in such quantities, this dram has some artificial colouring added to keep all their bottles consistent in the sherry or muscat colour range.
Nose - Lots of notes of honey and fudge with a hint of orange peel. Not the most exciting nose, but the smell gives the sense that it will be silky smooth.
Palate - A good dose of brown sugar to go with the fudge and honey, but there are some delightful spices here too. A hint of ginger gives a lovely kick to go with the sweetness. I don’t get as much of the rich dried fruits as I had expected but it is very pleasant.
Finish - Quite a long finish with a little more of the dried fruits coming through with the spices as the dram fades from your mouth.
Overall
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the Glenfiddich distillery, thanks to fond memories of tours I took as a teenager. I’ve never really got on with the 12 year old (though I should probably give it another chance), but this 15 year old is certainly a step up. I managed to pick up my bottle for just over £40 in a sale, and at that price, it is well worth a go. Even at a full price of nearly £60, it still sits at the more affordable end for a 15 year old scotch. All that said, it’s probably not a whisky I see myself keeping in stock regularly.