Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Red Wine Cask 19 Year

I've now sampled all three Age Of Discovery whiskies from Glenfiddich, and I can confidently state that, in my personal, subjective view, the Madeira Cask version is superior. This Red Wine Cask expression is the least impressive of the three, though it's still quite enjoyable and not bad at all. Age Of Discovery is a line of 19yo whiskies released some time ago by Glenfiddich, each accompanied by an engaging narrative about past centuries and world-altering discoveries. The Red Wine Cask edition pays tribute to the HMS Beagle, the vessel that transported Charles Darwin to South America—specifically, to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands—where he formulated his theory of evolution. Bottled at 40%abv, this spirit exhibits a copper color and was finished in South American red wine casks. On the nose, expect a full spectrum of wine-like characteristics: grapes, perfumed tobacco, and chocolate. It's very spicy, with a grassy clove-like spice. Chocolate cake. After an initial taste, notes of lemon emerge, a citrus scent reminiscent of an inexpensive car air freshener, alongside that vanilla/chocolate cake aroma. It's very appealing. Red apples. Very wine-like. On the palate, it's incredibly light and exceedingly easy to drink. Red fruits like red apples and strawberries are present. Very safe, but pleasant. The aftertaste is dominated by wine, tobacco, and red fruits. It evokes the sensation of drinking a Chilean red wine. Overall, this is a flavorful, very light whisky that will likely be highly appreciated by wine enthusiasts, but it might seem subdued to dedicated whisky aficionados. It's akin to a fruity red juice. My rating for it is a fair 87/100, reflecting the lightness of Glenfiddich spirits.

Alright, it's been an eventful week on the whiskey front. After several detours, I'm back on my 100-step plan... no. 2 in my sample set... The Alcoholics Anonymous program comes to mind when I hear about alcohol and steps being associated, but my plan has many more steps, and the twelfth one certainly won't involve me being sober! Anyway, onto the whiskey. Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon casks are used for this one. Do I like it? Yes. Is it my favorite Glenfiddich to date? Definitely (though that's a low bar). As Cask Strength Joe remarked, "where is the wine?" Then, after consuming it with food (perhaps the satay sauce?), I finally perceive the wine notes. I often forget that whiskey, like wine, sometimes requires food to help the palate discern the flavors. I was about to say I definitely see it reflected in the color as well, but there it goes... caramel coloring... and why on earth would you chill-filter such an expensive whiskey? A bit of spice, slight grapefruit bitterness, oak, toffee, plum. Hmm, rating is difficult... this is a $120 USD whisky. Is it worth it? Well, I certainly wouldn't pay that price. I think 4 out of 5 for merit... value for money brings it down to 3.5. I'll settle on 4... but just.

Aroma: floral, sweet dark fruits, and roasted nuts Taste: oily with red fruits and honey Finish: short to medium Overall: For the most part, this is a solid whisky. The red wine finish is well-integrated throughout. The aroma is the best part – interesting and packed with fruits. The only real drawbacks are a finish with little substance and an ABV that could certainly have been higher.

Nose: smoky, slightly peaty, pear, honey, vanilla Palate: smoky, mild honey sweetness, oaky Finish: long, oaky, smoky Overall: Does not taste like a wine cask. The nose is smoky but lacks hints of grape or sourness. Smells like a bourbon cask. Very strong and long oaky taste.

Personally, the maturation in Red wine casks was not to my liking. The flavors were difficult to identify. On the nose, there was a hint of red wine, which completely disappeared during tasting. In my personal ranking, this is third out of three in the Age of Discovery collection.

Great whisky, but where is the red wine? I wasn't expecting something this floral and herbaceous, with a touch of smoke. The added notes of vanilla and honey truly made this a pleasure to enjoy, but again... where's the red wine?