Glenfiddich Reserve Cask Single Malt

This single malt whisky comes from Glenfiddich distillery at Speyside region. As part of their Travel Retail Cask Collection range, it has no age statement (NAS).

It’s been matured in Spanish sherry casks hand-selected by Malt Master, Brian Kinsman. Then married in Glenfiddich’s Solera vatting system.

Still not a fan

I don’t like this NAS expression. I know I shouldn’t be surprised when I say it, since I didn’t like their age stated whiskies such as the 12 year old and the 15 year old. But I have a principal that each whisky deserves to have a chance.

For me, Glenfiddich just won’t deliver. Overall a decent dram but I won’t be filling my whisky glasses with this single malt, when I have other options.

Matured in:

Ex-Sherry casks

ABV: 40%

Colour: Golden amber

Nose: Raisins and barley start the show. Sherry notes are there but remain quite restrained. Hints of orange peel and oak.

Taste: Very hard to detect any flavors at first, like a wall of unflavored biscuits hit you first. Then hints of sherry start to rise from the back, with unmature oak dominating. Nuts and spices develop.

Finish: Sherry notes start to get stronger. Quite fast finish like with Select Cask, but with better notes. Berries and spices dominate.

Balance: Opposite to Select Cask, this one gets better towards the end. Aromas are light and restrained but palate gives slightly more. And aftertaste is best, though short.