Glenfiddich and shochu on the table


September 25, 2024

Glenfiddich and shochu on the table

The latest 'a bit pricey' Glenfiddich, Grand Château, was finished for 9 years in red Bordeaux, though no one knows which one, which makes us a little uneasy, especially since it's nothing experimental, as everyone is offering 'Bordeausky' this year. So we decided to instead enjoy last year’s Yozakura, but first, our traditional aperitif...

Glenfiddich ‘Reserve Cask’ (40%, OB, travel retail, 1l, +/-2024)

It’s on the pricier side for NAS in the perilous land of travel retail, but they’ve 'married' it in a solera vat, so there. Previous batches have left us slightly underwhelmed, but I’m sure it will serve as a perfect steppingstone to the Yozakura. Colour: gold. Nose: apples, pears, and a touch of sawdust, followed by herbal teas and a bit of hay. Not much backbone or punch here, one could say, but at least there are no off notes. Some pleasant tinned peaches do make a late entrance, though. Mouth: ah, this is where it falters a bit. Still that hay, but now with a slightly soapy edge, alongside white sugar and a supermarket blend of herbal teas. Unfortunately, the peaches never quite show up on the palate. Finish: short, a bit cardboardy, with some sweetened apple juice or sweet cider. Comments: something may have gone awry here. It’s still acceptable, let’s not exaggerate, but somewhat disappointing for a grand name like Glenfiddich.
SGP:341 - 70 points.

Glenfiddich 29 yo ‘Grand Yozakura’ (45.1%, OB, Japanese Awamori Finish, 2023)

This one spent its final six months in Shochu casks from Okinawa, also known as Awamori. As far as I understand, Awamori uses a different kind of fungus for fermentation—koji, the famous one—but the rice itself is Thai. Well, why not? Colour: gold. Nose: not immensely expressive at first, but it’s rather elegant, with a slightly fermentative side—sweet potato purée, mead, fresh almonds, green bananas, and a bit of pumpkin. A touch of brown sugar and orange biscuits later rounds things out. How does one say ‘it’s nice’ in Japanese? Mouth: a lovely start with triple sec and black tea, followed by hints of ale (that must be the Awamori influence) and spiced apple compote with cinnamon and lemon. The underlying distillate, after 28 or 29 years in the cask, doesn’t seem particularly expressive. Naturally, your brain might detect some sake, but are there truly any sake notes? Finish: medium length, with no major shifts, but it does turn softer in the end, slightly jammy, with a hint of demerara sugar. Comments: it’s fine and delicate, perhaps best suited for a spot of meditation or yoga. Still, I prefer the ‘Grande Couronne’ from 2021 (WF 89) and, of course, the 40-year-old from a decade ago. I seem to recall we used to enjoy more old ‘Fiddichs back then and earlier.
SGP:551 - 86 points.

Check the index of all Glenfiddich we've tasted so far