Review 144 - 10th January 2022

This is the second review from 18 Year Old Blind Tasting Showdown.
Drawn at random, we pulled Glenfiddich 18 Year Old from the box.

The sample was from a miniature of the Glendiffich 18 from a tasting box containing the 12, 15 and 18 year old single malt whiskies from Glenfiddich.

The 18 year old is bottled at 40% ABV, is chill filtered and has been colour adjusted. We have to question why distilleries essentially vandalise their own product in this way, at the very least a whisky, certainly of this age, should be bottled at 46% ABV, this would then hopefully remove the need to chill filter and since the whisky will be naturally be darker, maybe also remove the need to colour. This gives the customer the choice to drink as bottled or add water to their chosen strength.

The Glenfiddich 18 is widely available, it is probably fair to say that this is the most accesible core 18 year old whisky, even supermarkets carry it. With regards to price it is available from the following retailers; (others are available)

The Whisky Exchange £74.95
Master of Malt £67.85 (Out of stock at the time of writing)
Robbies Whisky Merchants £84.99

Giving an average price of £75.93 which makes the Glenfiddich one of the most affordable 18 Year old single malts available.

With regards to the Value Score (we will soon be putting out a video explaining the exact calculation used to arrive at the score together with a change in the name to more accurately reflect what the score actually is) it achieves 82.79 out of 100.

On the nose is starts with kick of rich apple and pear, it is floral and aromatic with the fruit, the aromas not hindered by the minimum ABV. There are hints of some finishing cask or double maturation beyond the standard bourbon cask, the sherry whilst not overwhelming the bourbon does reveal some of its character. With a little more nosing and time there are herbal and grassy elements, maybe cardamon or similar. It is a lovely nose but not presenting as hot.

On the palate it is very enjoyable but slightly unique. It begins watery before slowly the oils provide some syrupy texture. The sherry reveals itself more than it did on the nose with some elements of christmas cake spice, subtle dried fruit and with time some sulphur appears.
The pepper spice starts gradually but keeps increasing in intensity into the finish.
The finish is oaky, peppery and maybe has hints of chilli with offers up some spice burn.
The alcohol presents at 40% on the palate.

With water Apple and Pear reveal themselves more on the palate matching the nose profile more than without the water.

If you have spent anytime with the Glenfiddich 12 or 15 year old single malts, you will be very familiar with the 18 as a more mature through more oak and spice version of the Glenfiddich. It is very enjoyable and whilst hindered by the minimum abv and therefore chill filtration it does a great job. The mind does wonder how fantastic this whisky would be if it was bottled with a natural presentation of 46% or above and of course not chill filtered.
Of the three core whiskies mentioned, we prefer the 12 year old Glenfiddich as it is more playful and fruity and such an easy drinker that you can enjoy without too much pondering.

For an overall score (using our new adjusted score) we give it 75 of 100.
This places it top of our 18 Year Old Showdown based on nose and taste alone..