Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is the only “heavily” peated Glenfiddich in their lineup, but compared to the awesome smoky monsters of Islay it doesn’t hold a candle… but does it need to? Do we need another smoky behemoth adorning the shelves or is it better to have something more subtle and restrained to add to our stables?
In Glenfiddich’s Words: Glenfiddich Vintage Cask
“The Vintage Cask is inspired by the style of spirit made at Glenfiddich in 1887, made using a proportion of peated barley, which imparts a subtle yet noticeable smoky flavour, with the liquid aged in European oak and Bourbon casks. As Glenfiddich produces only a limited quantity of peated whisky, the Vintage Cask carries an RRP of £79 for a 700ml bottle.”
Before we get too far in to the Glenfiddich Vintage Cask review I should mention that like the Select Cask and Reserve Cask, the Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is a travel retail only offering. So while it’s definitely one of the most unique Glenfiddich’s you’ll come across it’s not overly easy to do so since it’s not sitting the shelf of your local liquor store.
Glenfiddich Vintage Peated Info
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Distiller: Glenfiddich
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & European Oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Price: $100 (Travel Retail)
Glenfiddich Vintage Peated Review
EYE
Orangish amber
NOSE
Smoked meat, fruit, iodine, honey, slight pine and spice. This is the most not-subtle aroma I’ve encountered in a Glenfiddich.
PALATE
Rich malt, peat, fruit, smoked meat, iodine and a light touch of pine, spice and leather.
FINISH
Long finish of leather, pepper, peat and coppery ink
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great sense of balance, medium body and a silken feel.
OVERALL
Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is really good. The peat has more of a mesquite-like character to it, but it pairs well with the fruit heavy character of the typical Glenfiddich and brings a multi-dimensional balance to the whisky that isn’t easily found in the regular expressions. The aroma, palate and finish give off a united character of smoked fruit that has me itching to do some camping.
The Glenfiddich 15 Cask Strength is still by far my favorite Glenfiddich, but this Glenfiddich Vintage Cask is coming up close behind it. It’s such an interesting and unique dram amidst the regular Glenfiddich that it stands alone against them all. I wish they’d get more peated barley into the mix and start adding a noticeable portion of it to their 15 year solera release, I think making the 15 a lightly peated release could make it amazing.
SCORE: 88/100 (B+)