Glenfiddich's Thrilling New Whisky Was Actually a Happy Accident
Glenfiddich is a distillery full of wonderful dichotomies. On one hand, the core range is made up of relatively affordable and accessible age-statement whiskies that are satisfying but won’t aggressively challenge your wallet or your palate. On the other hand, the distillery has a range of high-end, ultra-aged, luxury single malts that cost a pretty penny, but are often worth the extra cash if you can afford them.
The distillery’s Grand Series represents the pinnacle of that end of the single malt spectrum: a collection of whiskies aged for a few decades that are finished in various types of casks—some of which are pretty unusual.
The newest release in the series, Grand Château, is a 31-year-old single malt that has the distinction of being the first Glenfiddich whisky finished in red wine barrels from Bordeaux.
In actuality, the Scotch whisky had more of a secondary maturation than just a cask finish. It spent nine years aging in red wine barrels after 22 years in American oak—which wasn’t necessarily the plan, according to malt master Brian Kinsman.
“We put some whisky around 20 years old in these casks, probably thinking we’d leave it in for six months or so,” he said. “But something nice was happening, so we ended up leaving it for nine years. Why rush?”
Indeed, it's a great whisky. It deviates from the classic Glenfiddich palate that's typically defined by fresh pear and green apple notes. The flavor is intensely tannic but not overbearing, with notes of dried and fresh berries, dusty leather, cinnamon, coriander, tobacco, licorice, pepper, and just a hint of menthol. It’s also an expensive bottle, with a price tag of $2,100. For people looking to complete their Grand Series or for those who have the desire and means to purchase a well-aged single malt Scotch with a very impactful cask finish, it's worth it.
Last year’s Grand Series release also stood out. Grand Yozakura was a 29-year-old whisky initially aged in American oak before being finished in awamori casks. Awamori is a spirit made from rice that is indigenous to Okinawa, Japan. It's not commonly aged in wood, which made these barrels even more unique.
Other Grand Series releases, including Grand Château, have been finished in more traditionally used wine and Cognac casks to great effect.
Related: We've Tasted Hundreds of Scotch Whiskies. These 16 Bottles Are the Best of 2024