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Glenfiddich 21 - Gran Reserva (Orange Box)

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

ABV: 40%

Age: 21 years old

Style: Single Malt Whisky

Price: AUD$250~ (I bought mine for $267 at FirstChoice Liquor AU)

Glenfiddich needs little or no introduction at all. Founded in 1886, the Glenfiddich distillery is currently one of three distilleries to bottle on site with a total yearly capacity of ten million litres. It is also the first distillery with a visitor centre. Glenfiddich is the number one top-selling single malt in the world.

This particular bottling is a result of standardisation; previously known as Gran Reserva, Rum Reserve & Havana Reserve respectively. Okay.. enough exposition.

Nose: Barley sugar, brown sugar, malt, manuka honey, citrus fruits, dark chocolate.
Palate: full bodied, fruity, malty, oak, wood spice.
Finish: long, sweet citrus, dried fruits.

It starts off very sweet with a dried fruit/berry feel hitting your throat. Full bodied and fruity with that unmistakeable Glenfiddich spiciness. I find most Speyside whiskies tend to have this fruity-spicy feel. To be honest I don't get a lot of rum, although in this case it might not be such a bad thing. A more pronounced rum taste would take away from the whisky. Delicate thing to balance.

Presentation is fantastic - I have always been a fan of Glenfiddich bottling. Box is sturdy and colourful.

I don't like to give number ratings for things. I believe it unconsciously gives us a school-like approach to something that should be enjoyed and savoured.

My final thought is that this whisky is

OK..

The reason for this is because, for the price you are paying (AUD$250~) you expect more bang for your buck. It's an average whisky at best with competitors providing superior products at a lower price. It is a hell of a gift, a beautiful showpiece, but not your everyday dram.

It's interesting. For the longest time, a couple of close friends have criticized me (friendly ribbing of course) for being a filthy blended casual. I decided this would be my first single malt. In retrospect, not the best decision...

Despite the fact that Glenfiddich is one of the most popular single malt whiskies around, I definitely do not feel it is the best choice for someone looking into single malts, especially this one; this is for the more experienced whisky-drinker.

Here's a nice pic from my insta w/ some Mildura oranges for scale..