Glenfiddich IPA Experiment

My world wasn't turned upside down by this IPA finished whiskey, nor was I grateful for only getting a sample. The nose first presented some meat, suggesting this is quite young, with grain and a touch of floral fruit. A faint herbal bridge led to fruits like cherry, orange, and lemon, with a surprisingly subdued bitter layer from the hops. However, that overpowering meat on the nose made me pessimistic. The palate thankfully lacked the same extent of meaty flavor as the nose, though the rough, youthful distillate's meatiness was still present. The IPA's bitterness was more apparent here but not overwhelming. A nice herbal note led to floral fruit (tangerine, lemon, faint cherry), then malt, bringing out toasted grain, light wood, and vanilla. The malt was a bit too sweet and young, returning to the meaty flavor occasionally. This palate was almost good, undone not by the IPA but by the distillate. The finish featured more prominent hops with a lingering numbing bitterness, though far from overwhelming compared to other hopped expressions. The meatiness persisted in the finish, with only hints of herbs and floral fruit, mostly leaving numbness and meat. It was a bad finish, though not gag-inducing. I was worried about the hop flavor dominating, but the young distillate was the real issue, while the IPA surprisingly worked well, making me open to trying another IPA finished whiskey. This is not a good whiskey, but it is better than some and closer to a highly-rated alternative, even with the sulfuric meat. Re-sampling a few days later, the meatiness had largely vanished, making it quite likable, though not as good as a highly-rated bottling. It's decent competition for another well-regarded expression, but a bottle is too expensive. A 13/23 rating.

Finally getting around to this one. I tried the XX and Fire & Cane about 7-8 years ago. I've now managed to obtain the initial release from Glenfiddich's short-lived limited series. I considered Winter Storm a miss, so this should be the final installment. Let's explore it. Nose: Fruity and floral. Notes of apple, apricot, pear, and golden raisin. Toffee, honey, and vanilla. Coconut. Walnut and almond. Shea butter. Pineapple. Caramel and butterscotch. Marshmallow. Palate: Intense vanilla frosting, toffee, and honey. Milk chocolate is present too, alongside caramel. A hint of peanut/almond butter. Sugar cookie flavor. Apple, pear, apricot. White grape and golden raisin. Orange citrus. Plum. Some almond and walnut. White pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Finish: Almond and walnut. Plum, raisin, date, fig. The fruit notes are much darker and richer than the generally light and confectionary palate. White pepper, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Moderately long. As far as I know, this was among the first Scotch whiskies widely distributed to be finished in IPA casks—or beer barrels in general. It established a trend that others may have since adopted. While it might not seem groundbreaking now, reviewing it in 2025, it truly was, as advertised, an Experiment. And I believe it was a successful one. It offers a fuller body with less of that unpleasant astringency found in 40% ABV bottlings, and even includes some exotic, tropical notes. The latter was a welcome surprise. I approve. I think they ought to bring it back. I feel it should take the place of the 12 year old. Regardless, this is one of the better Glenfiddich expressions I've encountered. I paid $70 for a limited release that's nearly a decade older than its market release, possibly with a slight markup—the value was certainly there on all fronts. It's accessible for newcomers but complex enough to engage experienced drinkers. Solid quality. A 4/5 rating

Review #011 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: No Age Statement, finished in ex-IPA casks, experimental series #01 Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Chestnut color. When swirled, it leaves a thick line on the glass, and the legs form slowly. Nose: 15/20 Green apple, honey, more green apple, a subtle floral note, and yes, a lot of green apple. Palate: 25/40 Lemon and lime zest, ripe pear, and oak spice. Finish: 29/40 A medium finish, with a very mild salty undertone, more oak spice, a slight ethanol burn, and a bitter grapefruit and walnut conclusion. With Water: A drop of water intensifies the oak spice and grapefruit flavors in the finish. Total: 69/100 Final thoughts: I bought this on impulse because it looked distinctive on sale. I'm glad I had the chance to try it, but I won't be eager to buy another IPA-finished spirit once this bottle is gone. Price: $45 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

A very distinctive Scotch, light and balanced as one would anticipate from Glenfiddich. On the nose; floral with some fruit, a bit of citrus. On the palate; a pleasant mouthful of fruit with some floral notes. I detect apple and rose, with some lemon citrus following. A bit of spice emerges, but as it goes down you realize it’s not spice-but the familiar IPA taste. The finish is light and smooth. Very balanced, with that IPA flavor remaining. A lovely Scotch, but not my preference. If I wanted beer I would have grabbed an Innis & Gunn.

Nose: Orchard fruit - pear, pear drop candies, herbal Palate: Zesty, hoppy, pear drop candies, vanilla Finish: Medium duration. Beer, caraway, nigella seeds, burnt seeds and herbs This is clearly a young whisky, aged in a beer barrel. It has a slightly burnt and herbal aftertaste, with lots of fruity youthfulness upfront. It's acceptable, but nothing more.

First drink tonight. No IPA here at all! The flavor is very pleasantly balanced. Smells like fruit preserves from a wooden crate. Significant alcohol in both flavor and smell. Alcohol flavor and burning sensation in the mouth. A little wood in the finish. The flavor is delicate; I would not suggest adding water. Blends very well with stewed apples.