Glenfiddich 12 Year

👁 APPEARANCE | A copper-tinted goldenrod hue. Very clear. Quite light/thin and watery. 👃 AROMA | Dominated by immediate scents of Oloroso sherry and red wine, with an overall dessert-like sweetness. Moderate ethanol fumes/burn upon deep inhalation and closer inspection. Freshly-cut green apple and pear notes are layered underneath. Occasional pleasant hints of honey and toffee. No discernible change after adding water. 👅 TASTE | A refreshing and invigorating burst of springtime/meadow flowers, in harmony with various green orchard fruits. Heavy salt and generic baking spices, with mild black pepper notes. Oloroso sherry and vinous flavors reappeared (from their olfactory debut) only after adding water, becoming increasingly noticeable towards the end. 👄 MOUTHFEEL | Exceptionally light, thin (almost airy), watery, and smooth. Considerable—almost uncomfortable—saltiness, dryness, and spiced warmth, which became notably less intense after the addition of water. 🏁 FINISH | Obvious dryness, saltiness, and an overall "spicy warmth" (in a baking spice and ethanol sense), lingering strongly for over 10 minutes and unfortunately masking subtle remnants of fruits and flowers.

Nose: Sugary, with fruit aromas, vanilla, light maltiness, and notes of crisp apples and pears. The aroma is traditional, quite pleasing, and smells just like genuine whisky ought to. Palate: Sweet with vanilla and perhaps some honey. It's got spice, a hint of malt, is more robust than anticipated, oaky, and rather oily. There's a significant alcohol sting and a slightly bubbly sensation. The spice is apparent on the lower palate, while the malt notes are mostly on the upper rear palate. The fruity character has specific notes of apples, possibly pears, and some peaches too. Finish: Short to medium in duration, rather dry, with a leathery sensation. It also feels quite acidic in the stomach, which isn't very enjoyable, but it dissipates quickly. Adding a few drops of cold water doesn't seem to alter the flavor much. Upon tasting it again later, after letting it rest in the glass for a time, the whisky's character improved considerably. It became much maltier and smoother. I appreciate the maltiness in these spirits, though in this instance, it's not as prominent as in the Glenmorangie Triple Cask, for instance, where it is far more distinct.

28.12.2024 Christmas party with tipsy friends - Demeure du Grand Duc Appearance: Pale gold, quite classic Nose: alcoholic, honeyed, smells like cheap whiskeys First sip: the alcohol hits hard, like a warrior presenting his scimitar before stating his name, setting a proper tone. Second sip: spicy, leaving a slight film on the tongue. No third sip. Where are the flavors in this whiskey? Why doesn't it awaken my palate like the liqueurs of old? Where is the magic usually found at the bottom of a whiskey bottle? There is none here. No taste, no pleasure, no magic... My spirit remains in the mundane, the common, the vulgar, unable to ascend and join the Satyrs dancing and setting the night ablaze. This whiskey has quality packaging for a mediocre taste, like an attractive woman lacking intellect and personality. But my keen eye has already spotted a glimmer of hope... A magnificent Armenian Brandy ARARAT that will revive spirits and brighten this fine evening. Quickly! Drinks for everyone!

NEAT NOSE - Pear, faint green apple, and caramel PALATE - Pear and a little caramel are the most noticeable flavors. FINISH - Short BUY? - A nice introduction to scotch to gauge your interest. BUY AGAIN? - Probably not. It's good for the price, but I'd likely buy another one of their other expressions before repurchasing this one, as I don't consume much Scotch.

I've never been a huge fan of Glenfiddich. However, I must say the oakiness in this particular one was quite pleasant. I found it improved considerably when chilled slightly with a couple of whiskey cubes, but even then, there's an element that doesn't quite resonate with me. An enjoyable tasting experience, though I likely wouldn't purchase it.

It's a bit harsh throughout the taste and the finish. It has the typical single malt Scotch grassy note in the middle with a somewhat empty front end and a slightly sour back end. Overall, it's a rather harsh Scotch but quite representative of the style.