Glenfiddich Project XX

Gather your 20 brand representatives, let them explore your No.2 warehouse, each pick one cask, and then have your head blender combine all 20. The outcome is Glenfiddich's Project XX, or Project 20. Glenfiddich's experimental approach encourages me to try my own experiment and use a tasting guide to (perhaps more objectively?) create tasting notes. So, let's begin: Pour 30ml of Project XX into a Glencairn glass. Swirl gently to coat the glass. Let it rest for 10 minutes. Display the tasting guide on a laptop. -- Begin Nosing -- Round 1: Following the guide clockwise from 12 o'clock, I'll check off the aromas listed on the perimeter. Cereal? Yes, possibly. Fruity? Yes, certainly. Floral? Yes, no, perhaps, hmm. Peaty? Definitely not. Feinty? [quietly] What is that? Sulphury? No, absolutely. Woody? Yes, absolutely. Winey? Yes, most certainly. Round 2: Again, moving clockwise from 12 o'clock on the guide, I'll now examine the aroma headings near the center. Under the Cereal category, I can't find anything resembling the XX's aromas. Does this mean I should uncheck Cereal? Online sources say yes. Unchecked and disregarded. For Fruity, I have Fresh Fruit, Cooked Fruit, Dried Fruit. For Floral, I have something like Hay-Like... I think? For Feinty (this one again), I detect Honey and Tobacco. For Woody, I smell Vanilla and New Wood. For Winey, I get Sherried and Nutty characteristics. [Brief aside: A quick search reveals that Feinty refers to aromas/flavors derived from the tails, or feints, part of the distillation process.] Round 3: For the third and final time, moving clockwise from 12 o'clock on the guide: reading the detailed aromas in the center, I'll attempt to arrange those terms into a coherent tasting note, excluding the poetic language (that's for you, ). Immediately upon nosing, Project XX reminds me of Glenfiddich 12. There are abundant notes of apples, pears, and apricots, along with the familiar, though fainter and more subtle, hints of butterscotch, vanilla, and cinnamon; but this is merely the start – the aromas possess a fullness and richness that invites further investigation. This, in turn, brings forth notes of plum jam, plump black raisins, and dried figs, reminiscent of autumn. A subtle herbal note of heather mingles with the aroma of honeyed mead, finished with a dusting of nutmeg. -- End of Nosing -- I found the tasting guide to be quite useful, intentionally or not. It helped structure the nosing experience and provided associations that might have otherwise been hard to grasp. However, for me, it diminished the pleasure of actually smelling the spirit and recalling/rediscovering aromas tied to past memories. I will not repeat this process for the palate. It is sufficient to say that Project XX delivers on the palate what the nose foreshadowed. The texture is creamy and soft, with a dryness stemming from the sherry and port cask influences. For a 47% ABV, NAS bottling, there is very little alcohol burn; the flavors are well-rounded and full, and the medium-length finish is oaky and satisfying, suggesting the potential involvement of older casks in this blend. Well done, Glenfiddich. For me, this is certainly a good value offering.

I've had Glenfiddich a few times historically, and only on two occasions with serious tasting consideration here. The various versions have consistently seemed perfectly acceptable to me. Just acceptable. Nothing remarkable. Therefore, I approached this XX sample with some hesitation. Apparently, this XX (twenty) "is a blend of twenty distinct casks, including Port pipes, Sherry butts, and first-fill Bourbon casks, with each chosen by the brand's twenty global ambassadors. This collaborative marketing effort involved each ambassador selecting a cask from the distillery's storage that best reflected their character. These casks were then combined to produce a NAS, non-chill-filtered expression." I'm primarily hearing 'marketing effort.' Let's see how it performs. Nose: A potent musty aroma upon pouring that hasn't faded even after significant aeration in the glass. Sweet orchard fruits and a floral quality are somewhat obscured by spicy oak and anise. Hints of furniture polish emerge later. Palate: Quite unexpected: vibrant and very fruity. Initially, it presents as floral candy floss and pear cider, followed by woody spice notes, vanilla, biscuit, and marzipan. Finish: Extended. Florals are prominent, with some waxy, tannic undertones and a mouthfeel that ultimately becomes sweet and almost soapy. Alright. There's a lot happening here. The nose has potential for excellence but seems slightly unfocused, almost unblended. The palate offers wonderful florals, but they should be subtle, a delicate hint. Instead, it's like a mouthful of potpourri, far too intense. The finish is peculiar, again feeling muddled. While this whisky has received widespread acclaim, including a 95.5/100 from Jim Murray in the 2019 Whisky Bible, and numerous other positive reviews from well-known industry figures are readily available, I simply don't understand the hype. This feels less like a thoughtful project and more like the marketing department attempting to satisfy the finance team by utilizing a surplus of leftover barrels under the guise of a collective of experts. It's not that, but rather too many influences involved, in my opinion (though I realize no one asked).

Nose: toffee, buttercream frosting, tangerine, honey, strawberry, vanilla, pear, apple, grape, cinnamon, grass, lemon, black pepper, with a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: apple, pear, honey, caramel, strawberry, lemon, vanilla, grass, plum, almond, allspice, clove, lemon, ginger, with a moderate alcohol bite. The finish is medium length, featuring apple, honey, citrus, and baking spice flavors. After reviewing my records, I was surprised to find that the only Glenfiddich I’ve tried is the standard 12 year. Actually, I’m not that surprised. The general profile was always too light and fruity for my tastes. This is fruity, but it’s certainly not the light and boring Glenfiddich I’ve grown to ignore. The nose holds the standard honeyed fruit basket, but there’s more intrigue and oomph. The palate is surprisingly sharp, with crisp strawberry and prickly baking spices leading to a reasonable finish that fades nicely without veering into sour or bitter territory. I really like the inspiration behind this release. There’s a lot of quality in here, it’s blended well, and proofed correctly. While not amazing, I’d happily drink this any day, and that’s not something I could say after my past Glenfiddich experiences. Big thanks to a friend for the sample.

This is Glenfiddich Project XX Experience #02. It offers an intriguing taste reminiscent of high-rye bourbon. The notable 47% ABV enhances the flavor profile. It carries the traditional Glenfiddich scent of apples and pears, combined with creamy vanilla and hints of oak and honey. After adding a few drops of water and allowing it to rest for about 20 minutes, it takes on characteristics similar to a high-rye bourbon or even a rye whisky, with aromas of damp pine wood and forest floor. A delightful experience! The palate features honey, vanilla, apple, and cinnamon. The finish is lengthy, with spices like nutmeg and more cinnamon. Very enjoyable! Cheers!

Taking a sip induces a wave of relaxation and contentment. On the nose: reminiscent of a favorite fruit assortment complemented by vanilla, honey, and some toasted oak. The palate: offers a smooth, refreshing taste of apple, apricot, pear, and perhaps a hint of cherry. A perfect harmony of vanilla and oak, enhanced by a drizzle of honey. The flavor profile is exceptionally well-rounded, and it goes down smoothly. The finish is of medium duration, neither too heavy nor too light (just right, one might say), leaving one to wonder where it's been all their life.

Nose - apples, apricots, a touch of oakiness Taste - oak dominates initially, followed by fruity vanilla Finish - an oaky finish with a hint of sweetness Score - 3.75 Scoring Guide 5.0 - Outstanding, unparalleled 4.5 - Excellent, a staple bottle if possible 4.0 - Very good, enjoyable, a solid option 3.5 - Good, would sample again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, drinkable but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—avoid unless desperate