Pedro Ximénez is the sweetest sherry there is. The grapes are dried in the sun before pressing, giving a wine so thick it is close to syrup. The casks then work quickly on a whisky — even one as bright as Glencadam’s.

The expert's description

Glencadam PX Sherry Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The main maturation takes place in traditional American oak bourbon casks, where the bright distillery fruit gets room. Only then does the whisky go into selected PX casks, and the short finish is enough to lay dark fruit and chocolate in without erasing the starting point. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

PX casks are the most powerful in the sherry family and are normally used sparingly. On a spirit like Glencadam’s — light, fruit-driven and without much weight of its own — it is a balancing act, and the finish is therefore kept short enough that the whisky is not run over.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruits and dark chocolate, with spice and a rich sherry sweetness. Beneath the sweetness sits a brighter fruit note from the bourbon casks.

Palate

Full and rich. Raisin, fig and dark chocolate, with a spice that builds towards the end. The 46% and the absence of chill filtration give a clearly oily mouthfeel.

Finish

Medium to long. Sherry sweetness and cocoa drying slowly into a lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam PX Sherry Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon casks with a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: PX Sherry Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349609704

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Glencadam sits inside the town of Brechin itself, not out in the countryside like most Scottish distilleries. The town has grown around the site over two hundred years, and production today takes place in the middle of an ordinary residential area.

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The name points to Andalucía, where the sherry comes from. It is one of the few places in the world where casks are still produced specifically for the whisky industry, and Glencadam has brought oloroso from there to finish this release.

The expert's description

Glencadam Reserva Andalucia is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky built from sherry and bourbon casks with a finishing period in oloroso casks from Andalucía, bottled at 46%.

The build is different from the other finish releases. Here sherry casks are selected from the Glencadam warehouses and married with bourbon casks before the whole batch gets its finishing period in oloroso. That gives a more thoroughgoing sherry character than a straight finish would. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

Oloroso is the dry sherry type. It matures in contact with air and develops nuts, dried fruit and a firm bitterness rather than the syrupy sweetness of PX. On the fruity Glencadam spirit that gives a balance between the brightness of the house and the depth of the sherry.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich sherry with sultanas and sweet spice, over a base note of bright Glencadam fruit. There are nuts and dried apricot behind.

Palate

Full and sherry-forward. Dried fruit, nuts and spice, with the distillery fruitiness as a counterweight. The balance between the two is the whole point of the release.

Finish

Medium to long. Nuts and dried fruit ebbing away into a dry, lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam Reserva Andalucia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry and bourbon casks with a finishing period in oloroso casks from Andalucía
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Reserva Andalucia
EAN no.: 5021349704126

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Dried fruit · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

Glencadam sits in the Eastern Highlands, a part of Scotland that once held a string of distilleries but has very few left today. The other distillery in Brechin, North Port, closed in 1983 and was demolished.

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White port is a rarity in the whisky world. Most port casks that end up in Scotland have held ruby or tawny, and those give dark fruit. White port pulls the other way — towards stone fruit, citrus and something almost floral.

The expert's description

Glencadam White Port Cask Finish is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American ex-bourbon casks with a finishing period in white port casks from Portugal, bottled at 46%.

Main maturation takes place in American oak that previously held bourbon, and the finishing period runs in casks from white port. White port is made from white grapes and is brighter and fresher than the red varieties, which suits the Glencadam expression rather than competing with it. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

The combination is unusual, even among the many cask finish releases out there. White port casks are rarely used for whisky, partly because they are hard to come by and partly because the effect is more subtle than sherry or red port — you need a spirit that can carry a light hand.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft, tart fruits and stone fruits, with buttery orange cakes and vanilla custard.

Palate

Delicate shades of sweet summer fruit and apple cakes, with raisins coated in honey and a trace of cedarwood. The texture is soft and round without turning heavy.

Finish

Pleasant with a peppery warmth, well balanced by vanilla, the scent of oak and flavourful butter biscuits. Medium.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam White Port Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks with a finishing period in white port casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: White Port Cask Finish
EAN no.: 5021349597704

Flavour profile

Fruity · Stone fruit · Vanilla-sweet · Soft · Spiced

Did you know?

White port makes up only a small share of total port production. The great majority is red, and that is exactly why white port casks are a rarity in Scottish warehouses compared with ruby and tawny casks.

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First came Darth Vader, then Yoda, and now Luke Skywalker. The names are the Danish whisky retailers' own joke, and the last one is a nod to Billy Walker — the man who lifted Glendronach out of obscurity, and whose surname fitted a little too well.

The expert's description

Glendronach 10 Year Old Luke Skywalker is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 48%.

The bottling was made officially for professional Danish whisky retailers in an outturn of around 3,000 bottles, sold only on the Danish market. The whisky sits entirely in PX sherry casks, the sweetest and most concentrated sherry type, and it is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Glendronach is built on sherry. Since 1826 the distillery has matured its whisky in Spanish oak casks from the bodegas of Andalucía, so a ten year old entirely in PX is not a side step but a concentrated version of the house style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark sherry and raisin, with fig, dark chocolate and a layer of spice. The youth registers as a fresh berry note beneath the heavy fruit.

Palate

Full and sweet. Raisin, dates and dark chocolate, with a firm spiced middle. The 48% gives the whisky the weight a ten year old would otherwise lack against this much sherry.

Finish

Long. Dark fruit and cocoa drying slowly into a lightly bitter, nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach 10 Year Old Luke Skywalker Danish Whisky Retailers Highland Single Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: Approximately 3,000
Edition: Luke Skywalker - Officially Bottled for Professional Danish Whisky Retailers
EAN no.: 5060399683517

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Full

Investment potential

High. Around 3,000 bottles for a single market, bottled officially for the professional trade and part of a named series. Exclusive market releases of that kind get collected as a run, and both Darth Vader and Yoda are now hard to find.

Did you know?

James Allardice, who founded Glendronach in 1826, was only the second person in Scotland to obtain a legal distilling licence after the excise legislation of 1823. The distillery has therefore been there from the very beginning of the legal Scotch whisky industry.

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The label is new, the whisky is the same. Glendronach reworked the whole core range in mid-2024, and the 12 year old was among the first to get the new look. The contents were not changed — only the frame around them.

The expert's description

Glendronach 12 Year Old is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Spanish Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 43%.

The whisky matures for over twelve years in a mix of the two sherry types. PX contributes raisin, fig and dark syrup, while oloroso lays in nuts and dry fruit, and the combination of the two is the very basis of the Glendronach house style. The casks come from the bodegas of Andalucía.

The 2024 redesign was more than a new label. Under Rachel Barrie the whole core range — 12, 15 and 18 years — was given a shared visual identity meant to put the sherry casks at the centre of the presentation. The 12 year old is the entry to the run and the release most people meet first.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisin and fig first, with dark syrup from the PX casks. Behind that sit walnut and dried orange from the oloroso, plus a layer of warm spice.

Palate

Full and sherry-sweet. Dried fruit, nuts and dark chocolate, with a spiced middle and a touch of oak. The 43% holds the whisky together without making it hard.

Finish

Medium to long. Sherry sweetness and nuts drying slowly into a lightly bitter oak note.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach 12 Year Old Rebranded Sherry Cask Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Spanish Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Rebranded
EAN no.: 5060088791646

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Full

Did you know?

Glendronach reworked its entire core range in mid-2024. The 12, 15 and 18 year olds were given a shared new design that put the sherry casks at the centre of the presentation — a decision taken under Rachel Barrie’s stewardship.

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PX only. No oloroso to dry it out, no bourbon to lighten it. Ode to The Dark is the most uncompromising of the three in The Master’s Anthology, and the name was not chosen at random.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Dark is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured entirely in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and bottled at 50.8%.

PX is the sweetest and most concentrated sherry type, and a whisky that sits in it alone picks up a depth and a colour no other cask combination can give. The 50.8% is pitched high to keep the heavy fruit in check — at a lower strength the sweetness would easily turn cloying.

The bottling forms part of The Master’s Anthology, a trio of Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed by master blender Rachel Barrie and launched in December 2024. The three releases carry no age statement and are each built around their own cask direction — Ode to The Valley, Ode to The Embers and Ode to The Dark.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark chocolate and black cherries, with dates and a hint of bitter coffee. There is a heavy syrup note that PX casks always lay in.

Palate

Dense and sweet. Dates, raisin and dark chocolate, with a coffee bitterness cutting through. The cask strength gives the whisky enough structure not to collapse under its own sweetness.

Finish

Very long. Cocoa, dark fruit and a dry, almost burnt close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Dark Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50.8%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Dark
EAN no.: 5060716145506

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Sweet · Powerful

Did you know?

The Master’s Anthology was launched in December 2024 as three releases at once. That is unusual for Glendronach, which normally sends out single releases, and the three are meant to be tasted alongside each other rather than separately.

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Glendronach and smoke is not an obvious combination. The distillery has built its whole name on sherry, and peated spirit is something it makes rarely. Ode to The Embers is one of the few times the two meet in the same bottle.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Embers is a peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, bottled at 48.4%.

Most of the maturation takes place in oloroso casks with a share of Pedro Ximénez, and that is a deliberate build: the oloroso gives the dryness the smoke can play against, while the PX rounds off the sharp edges. The whisky carries no age statement, because the composition was chosen by cask rather than by year.

The bottling is the peated one of the three in The Master’s Anthology, composed by master blender Rachel Barrie and launched in December 2024. The series is intended as three different answers to the same question — what sherry casks can actually be used for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoked malt and glowing charcoal, with dark fruit and sherry behind. There is an oily note beneath the smoke that does not resemble Islay.

Palate

Full and smoky. Dried fruit and nuts from the sherry casks meet an earthy, warm smoke, and the PX share lays in a sweetness that holds it all together.

Finish

Long. Smoke and dark fruit giving way slowly to a dry, spiced close with a trace of ash.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Embers Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 48.4%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Embers
EAN no.: 5060716145490

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Full

Did you know?

Glendronach only distils peated spirit in short spells, and smoky releases from the distillery can be counted on a few hands. That is one of the reasons each one draws a comparatively large amount of attention when it arrives.

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The valley at Forgue is where Glendronach sits, and the name of this release points back to the place rather than to the cask. It is the brightest and fruitiest of the three in The Master’s Anthology — the one where the spirit gets the most room.

The expert's description

Glendronach Ode to The Valley is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

At 46.2% it is the gentlest of the three in the series, and that is a deliberate choice. Where Ode to The Dark is dense and syrupy and Ode to The Embers is peated, Valley goes for floral nectar and summer berries — the bright end of what sherry casks can deliver. The whisky carries no age statement.

The Master’s Anthology appeared in December 2024 as three releases at once, composed by master blender Rachel Barrie. Valley is the entry to the series and the one that shows the Glendronach fruitiness without the heavy sherry layer the distillery is otherwise known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral nectar and summer berries, with pale honey and a trace of peach. The sherry sits as a calm undertone rather than as the lead.

Palate

Fruity and round. Red berries, honey and ripe stone fruit, with a lightly spiced edge and a hint of nuts from the casks. The 46.2% keeps it light without making it thin.

Finish

Medium. Fruit and honey sliding out into a dry, lightly nutty close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Ode to The Valley Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46.2%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Edition: The Master’s Anthology - Ode to The Valley
EAN no.: 5060716145483

Flavour profile

Fruity · Floral · Honeyed · Soft · Sherried

Did you know?

All three releases in The Master’s Anthology carry no age statement. That is a deliberate choice by Rachel Barrie, who wanted to compose them by cask type and character rather than let a year dictate what could go into the bottle.

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Port casks in a Glendronach. It is not something the distillery does often, and together with the peat it makes Traditionally Peated the most unusual bottle in the permanent range.

The expert's description

Glendronach Traditionally Peated is a peated Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks along with used port casks, bottled at 48%.

The combination of three cask types is chosen to give the smoke something to play against. PX lays in sweetness, oloroso gives the nuttiness and dryness, and the port casks add a red fruit note found nowhere else in the range. The whisky carries no age statement.

The smoke here does not resemble Islay. There is no iodine or seaweed, but instead a dry, earthy peat smoke that sits beneath the fruit rather than on top of it. The bottling reached the market in 2019 and was composed by master blender Rachel Barrie.

Tasting notes

Nose

Peat smoke and dark fruit, with raisin and a trace of red berry from the port casks. There is a dry, almost dusty spice note behind.

Palate

Full and smoky. The dried fruit and nuts of the sherry meet an earthy smoke, while the port casks lay in a red, lightly tart fruit that keeps the whisky from turning heavy.

Finish

Long. Smoke, nuts and dark fruit drying slowly into a spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Glendronach Traditionally Peated Highland Single Malt Whisky 48%
Distillery: Glendronach
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry casks along with used port casks
Bottled: 2019
Edition: Traditionally Peated
EAN no.: 5060399689199

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Full

Did you know?

Traditionally Peated uses used port casks alongside the two sherry types. Port casks are rare in the Glendronach range, where Spanish sherry casks are otherwise the rule, and they are a large part of why the whisky carries that red fruit note.

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Sherry from the first sip. Glenfarclas does not use sherry casks as a finish but as the foundation itself, and you can taste it already in the youngest release in the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 10 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

Ten years is the distillery entry release, and it is built to show the house style rather than to impress with age. The sherry takes up clear room, but at 40% the whisky is light enough to be drunk without ceremony, and there is a trace of smoke in the background that comes from the direct firing under the stills.

Glenfarclas sits at Ballindalloch by the River Spey and has been in the hands of the Grant family since 1865. The water comes from a spring in the Ben Rinnes hills, and the distillery is one of very few left that still fires its pot stills directly with gas rather than using steam heating.

Tasting notes

Nose

Plenty of sherry, with honey, a touch of caramel and barley behind.

Palate

Spices, dried fruit, pastry and caramel, with a very small hint of smoke in the middle. The body is light at 40%, but the sherry gives it more weight than the number suggests.

Finish

Medium. More spice, dried fruit and oak closing quietly.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066104018

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Dried fruit · Malty · Light

Did you know?

John Grant bought Glenfarclas in 1865 for £512, and the distillery has been in the family ever since. That makes Glenfarclas one of very few Scottish distilleries still run by the same family after more than a century and a half.

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It began as a Christmas present. In 1968 George S. Grant bottled a cask of Glenfarclas at full strength and gave it to family and friends, and it later became the 105 — the first cask strength single malt to be regularly available.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured primarily in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength 60%.

The whisky carries no age statement, but the contents typically sit somewhere between eight and ten years. The number 105 refers to the old British proof scale, where 105 degrees equals the 60% alcohol. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

When the 105 reached the market, the cask strength category barely existed as something you could buy in a shop. It was a time when almost all single malt was reduced to 40 or 43%, and Glenfarclas took a chance sending something this powerful out to ordinary customers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, nuts and dark chocolate, with a touch of oak. There is a light floral note that balances the heavy sherry elements.

Palate

Intense and full from the first sip. Sweet malt and dark syrup, followed by spiced oak, cloves and a trace of liquorice. The strength registers clearly, but it is warming rather than sharp.

Finish

Long, dry and lasting. Spices, dark fruit and a pleasant warmth that hangs on for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 60%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 60%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Primarily oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: 105 Cask Strength
EAN no.: 5018066105015

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Powerful · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Glenfarclas 105 was born in 1968 when George S. Grant bottled a cask at full strength as a Christmas gift for family and friends. It later became a permanent part of the range and is regarded as the first regularly available cask strength single malt.

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Tall and slim instead of low and broad. The bottle shape alone says this 105 comes from another time — today’s release arrives in a short, squat bottle, while the older ones were filled into tall bottles.

Please note: There is a white band around the bottle neck and light scratches on the top of the box.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 105 Old Version is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at cask strength 60% in a 75 cl bottle.

The bottling appears to date from the 1980s. The 75 cl was the European standard until 70 cl took over in the early 1990s, and the tall bottle shape was later replaced by the low, broad one Glenfarclas uses today. The whisky carries the white band around the neck.

The contents follow the same idea as the current 105 — sherry-matured Glenfarclas at full strength with no age statement. But spirit from the 1970s and 80s has a reputation for being heavier and oilier than what is made today, and for many collectors that is exactly why the older bottles are interesting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Complex and oaky, with apples, pears and a sweet, dark toffee. There is a dusty depth that older bottles often develop.

Palate

Dry and assertive. It develops quickly to reveal a rich spiciness combined with a hint of oak and sherried fruit. At 60% there is a lot at once, but it is warming rather than sharp.

Finish

Amazingly smooth for the strength. Warming and with a lingering smokiness, yet gathered and round.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 105 Old Version Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Whisky 60%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 60%
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Bottled: 1980s
Edition: 105 Old Version - tall bottle with white neck band

Flavour profile

Sherried · Oaky · Spiced · Lightly smoky · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. Both the 75 cl format and the tall bottle left Glenfarclas during the 1990s, and a 105 from the 1980s cannot be made again. Older cask strength bottlings from the distillery are collected precisely because they represent a period when the category was still new.

Did you know?

Glenfarclas runs six pot stills, the largest in Speyside, and they are fired directly with gas rather than heated by steam. It is an approach almost every other distillery has abandoned, and it produces a heavier spirit.

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Two years more than the ten year old and three percentage points higher. It does not sound like much, but at Glenfarclas it makes the difference between a whisky you drink and a whisky you sit with.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 12 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The twelve years is the distillery best-selling release and the one most people use as a reference point for the house style. The sherry is clear but has not taken over yet, and at 43% the whisky carries more body than the 10 year old without demanding anything particular of the drinker.

The name Glenfarclas means the glen of the green grassland, and it is exactly that freshness you find beneath the sherry here. It is a note that runs through the whole range and keeps turning up, however many years the cask is given.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and crisp, with a lightly spiced sweetness and a touch of orange. The sherry sits as a warm base beneath it all.

Palate

Full with notes of dried fruit, new wood and a light sweet smoke. The 43% gives the whisky a firmness the 10 year old lacks, and the spice builds slowly towards the end.

Finish

Surprisingly long. Elegant spice and dried fruit lingering further than the age suggests.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 43%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Dried fruit · Fruity · Malty

Did you know?

Glenfarclas has a board room panelled with wood from the ocean liner Empress of Australia. The panelling came from the ship’s drawing room and was put up in the visitor centre, which has been called The Ship’s Room ever since.

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No finish. No port casks, no wine casks, no detour. Glenfarclas has built its whole range on sherry casks alone, and the 15 year old is where that decision pays out most.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 15 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

The 46% is higher than in both the 10 and the 12 year old, and that is no accident. Fifteen years in sherry casks builds a depth that a low bottling strength would have flattened, and the extra three percentage points keep both the sweetness and the spice in place.

For many people the 15 year old is the point where Glenfarclas stops being an everyday whisky and becomes something you reach for deliberately. The sherry is still recognisable from the younger releases, but it has been joined by roasted nuts, dates and a texture that is clearly fuller.

Tasting notes

Nose

Complex sherry notes with a touch of understated smoke, cream caramel and a small hint of dried fruits such as dates and figs.

Palate

Great body with elegant balance. Plenty of sweetness from the sherry casks, malty tones, roasted nuts and a light smoke that sits beneath the fruit rather than on top of it.

Finish

Long and lingering with lavish sweetness, light smoke and plenty of complexity.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066154617

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Dried fruit · Lightly smoky · Full

Did you know?

Glenfarclas does not use cask finishes in its core range. Where most distilleries today round their whisky off in port, wine or rum casks, Glenfarclas has held on to sherry casks alone from fill to bottling.

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Six decades in one bottle. When Glenfarclas came to mark 185 years, the family went into the warehouses and brought out casks from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s — and married them into a single whisky.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky composed from casks spanning six decades and bottled at 46%.

Around two thirds of the casks are Spanish sherry oak, the rest other cask types from the distillery own warehouses. The whisky carries no age statement, because one would have to follow the youngest cask in the marriage and would say very little about what is actually in the bottle. The outturn is 6,000 bottles.

Glenfarclas was founded in May 1836, and the anniversary release was bottled in May 2021 — exactly 185 years later. It is the kind of marker a family-owned distillery can make precisely because there are still old casks left in its own warehouses to draw on.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep sherry and dried fruit, with raisin, fig and a dark syrup note. The oldest casks show up as a dusty, almost waxy depth behind.

Palate

Full and layered. Dark fruit and nuts from the old casks meet a fresher fruitiness from the younger ones, and the spice builds slowly through the palate. The 46% keeps the many layers apart.

Finish

Very long. Dried fruit, nuts and a dry oak note that keeps shifting.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Casks from six decades, around two thirds Spanish sherry oak
Bottled: May 2021
Number of bottles: 6,000
Edition: Celebrating Our 185th Anniversary - Limited Edition
EAN no.: 5018066200376

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Complex

Investment potential

Medium. 6,000 bottles of an anniversary release drawing on casks from six decades cannot be remade, and the composition rests on old stock that cannot be recreated. Anniversary bottles from family-owned distilleries tend to be collected rather than drunk.

Did you know?

Glenfarclas was founded in May 1836, and the 185th anniversary was marked by bottling in May 2021 — to the month, 185 years later. It is a detail that requires having casks from every decade in between.

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Five casks, hand-picked by John L.S. Grant himself for a single importer in Paris. That is how a small batch comes about when the distillery knows the recipient and can afford to choose by taste rather than by volume.

Please note: The wooden case shows signs of wear, and there is a yellow band on the bottle.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from five sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2011 after eight years in sherry casks number 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876. Eight years is young for Glenfarclas, but the marriage of five casks gives enough breadth for the whisky to stand up, and the 46% keeps the texture oily.

The selection was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. It is an approach close to the Family Casks idea — individual casks chosen by the family itself — but here gathered into a small batch rather than bottled separately.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe pears, quince and raisins, with light citrus and a discreet herbal freshness. The sherry casks contribute warm, sweet tones.

Palate

Rounded and full with a sweet, fruity core. Ripe pears and light citrus meet the soft sweetness of the malt, and a subtle spiced tone from the cask maturation gives depth. The mouthfeel is soft and oily.

Finish

Medium to long with lasting notes of fruit, malt and a lightly spiced undertone.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch Speyside Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks no. 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2011
Edition: The Private Reserve Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Sherried · Soft · Spiced

Investment potential

Medium. A small batch from five named casks, selected for one importer and bottled in 2011, cannot be remade. Parcels of that kind are rarely seen outside the market they were made for, and the supply can only fall.

Did you know?

The selection for this small batch was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. The French importer has taken its own selected parcels from Scottish distilleries for decades, and several of them have never travelled beyond the French market.

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Twenty-five years is where the coffee arrives. Not as an addition, but as something that emerges on its own once sherry cask and time have worked together long enough — and at Glenfarclas it comes alongside orange marmalade and sweet smoke.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 25 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43%.

The 43% may look low for a twenty-five year old, but it is a deliberate choice. After that many years in sherry casks the whisky is already concentrated, and a higher strength would make it hard rather than elegant. The balance between the sherry and the alcohol is the whole point of this bottling.

Glenfarclas can offer a continuous ladder from ten to forty years, which few family-owned distilleries can. It is because several generations have held back from selling the old casks off — something that requires being able to do without the income in the short term.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate sweet smoke, orange marmalade and honey, with freshly ground coffee, sherry and nuts over a base of aged wood.

Palate

Robust and full with great body. Sweet smoke and nuts, with a fine balance between the sherry casks and the alcohol. Dark chocolate settles at the back of the mouth.

Finish

Intense and long. Dry, malty, nutty and lightly smoky, with a dark chocolate note that lingers well afterwards.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 25 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066254317

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Coffee · Lightly smoky · Full

Investment potential

Medium. A twenty-five year old from a family-owned distillery that owns its own old stock is not a bottle produced in large volumes. Glenfarclas has kept its older age statements in the range, but the quantities shrink as the casks empty.

Did you know?

Glenfarclas can offer an unbroken age ladder from ten to forty years because the family has let the old casks stand over generations. It is a luxury few distilleries have, and it cannot be built up in a short time.

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The cask was filled by George Grant. It was emptied for his son John, who had spent fifty years in the trade by the time the bottle appeared. That is the kind of timeline only a family-owned distillery can deliver.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old 50th Anniversary is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 50% in 836 bottles.

The bottling marks chairman John Grant’s fifty years in the whisky industry. The whisky was laid down by his father, George Grant, and was allowed to sit for half a century before bottling. The 50% is high for a whisky of this age and says something about how slowly the casks work in the Glenfarclas warehouses.

Fifty years in sherry casks is rare, but it is not unusual at Glenfarclas. The family has held back from selling its oldest casks over generations, and precisely for that reason the distillery can make a bottling like this without having to buy casks in from outside.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep and concentrated. Dried fruit, dark syrup and old leather, with a dusty library note only decades in wood can create.

Palate

Full and dense. Raisin, walnut and dark chocolate over a base of aged oak, with a spiced depth that keeps unfolding. The 50% carries the whisky without being sharp.

Finish

Very long. Dried fruit, tobacco and oak drying slowly and lingering for many minutes.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 50 Year Old 50th Anniversary Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 50 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
Number of bottles: 836
Edition: 50th Anniversary - John Grant’s fifty years in the trade

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Leather · Complex

Investment potential

High. 836 bottles for the whole world, fifty years in cask and an anniversary that will not come round again. Old Glenfarclas casks still sit in the family warehouses, but a bottling tied to a particular person and a particular year cannot be repeated.

Did you know?

The whisky was laid down by George Grant and bottled for his son John, marking fifty years in the whisky industry. A cask filled by one generation and emptied by the next is only possible when the same family name has been on the deeds the whole way.

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Eight years sits below the distillery own entry age. It is a whisky where the sherry casks have not yet taken over, and where the apple pie and the almonds lie closer to the surface than they do in the rest of the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 8 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

The permanent range begins at ten years, so an eight year old is the youngest release the distillery sends out. The sherry is still there, but it is lighter and more fruit-driven, and at 40% the whisky is easy to approach without being thin. The apple and cinnamon come from the spirit rather than from the cask.

Glenfarclas came into the Grant family by chance. John Grant was a cattle breeder whose fields lay next to the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell in 1865 it was the natural move. The family has held it ever since.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apple pie, almonds and cinnamon, with hay, honey and raisins behind. Brighter and fresher than the rest of the range.

Palate

Nuts, butter and chocolate, with a hint of grass underneath. The sherry is present without dominating, and the 40% makes the whisky easy to drink over a longer stretch.

Finish

Vanilla fudge, apple and raisins. Medium and soft with no bitter edges.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 8 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066704089

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Malty · Soft · Light

Did you know?

John Grant was a cattle breeder, not a distiller, when he bought Glenfarclas in 1865. His fields lay right up against the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell and return to England, the deal was the easiest decision in the world.

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Distilled on 31 December 1999. That is the last day of the millennium, and the cask was filled while the rest of the world was getting ready for fireworks. Twenty-two years later it yielded 203 bottles — for Denmark only.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 1999 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single sherry cask, bottled at 50%.

The cask was filled on 31 December 1999 and emptied on 27 June 2022 after twenty-two years. Cask number 7512 gave 203 bottles, and the release forms part of The Family Casks — the Glenfarclas series of individual casks selected and bottled by the family without blending.

The Millennium casks hold a particular status, because the date is one of the few in whisky where you know exactly what was happening that day. This one was selected for the Danish market and has never been sold anywhere else.

Tasting notes

Nose

Deep sherry with raisin and dried fig, over a base of aged oak. There is a waxy depth that twenty-two years in a single cask has created.

Palate

Full and concentrated. Dark fruit, walnut and a spiced middle, with a firm oak note keeping the sweetness in check. The 50% gives the whisky structure without being hard.

Finish

Long and dry. Nuts, dark fruit and oak ebbing away slowly with a spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 1999 #7512 Highland Single Malt Whisky 50%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry cask no. 7512
Distilled: 31 December 1999
Bottled: 27 June 2022
Number of bottles: 203
Edition: The Family Casks - Millennium Cask, selected for Denmark

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. 203 bottles from one cask, distilled on the last day of 1999 and selected for the Danish market alone. The Millennium date makes the cask easier to recognise than most single casks, and the outturn is closed for good.

Did you know?

The Family Casks was launched in 2007 with a bottling from every single vintage between 1952 and 1994. It is a series no other distillery has been able to match, precisely because it requires unbroken stock across four decades.

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Twenty-four hours after the other Millennium cask. This one was filled on 1 January 2000 — the first day of the new millennium — and it is hard to find a whisky with a more precise birthday.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 2000 is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single sherry butt, bottled at cask strength 56.1%.

The cask was filled on 1 January 2000 and emptied on 28 June 2022 after twenty-one years. Sherry butt number 24 gave 569 bottles, which is a lot for a single cask — a butt holds around 500 litres where a hogshead takes only half that. The 56.1% is natural cask strength.

The bottling forms part of The Family Casks and was selected specially for the Danish market. Together with the Millennium cask from the day before, the two make a pair where the difference between casks filled twenty-four hours apart can be tasted side by side.

Tasting notes

Nose

Powerful sherry with raisin, dates and dark syrup. The cask strength pushes the fruit forward, and there is a warm spice note beneath it all.

Palate

Dense and sweet. Dark fruit, walnut and chocolate, with a firm spiced middle. The 56.1% gives the whisky an intensity its gentler Millennium sibling does not have.

Finish

Very long. Dark fruit, nuts and a dry oak close with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas Millennium Single Cask 2000 #24 Highland Single Malt Whisky 56.1%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 56.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry butt no. 24
Distilled: 1 January 2000
Bottled: 28 June 2022
Number of bottles: 569
Edition: The Family Casks - Millennium Cask, selected for Denmark

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Chocolate · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. 569 bottles from one sherry butt with a distillation date that occurs only once. The cask was selected for Denmark alone, and together with the 1999 cask it forms a pair collectors seek as a set rather than separately.

Did you know?

The two Millennium casks were filled twenty-four hours apart — one on the last day of 1999, the other on the first day of 2000. They sit today at 50% and 56.1% respectively, which shows how differently two casks can develop under the same roof.

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Five centilitres is enough for two decent sips. That is the amount you need to work out whether Glenfarclas 12 Year is for you, without committing to a full bottle.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 12 Year Miniature is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside, matured in sherry casks and bottled at 43% in a 5 cl bottle.

The contents are the same as in the full-size bottle. The whisky has spent at least twelve years in a mix of oloroso sherry casks, and 43% is the distillery standard strength for this bottling.

Miniatures like this one are typically used for tastings, gift sets and travel. The format makes it easy to line several distilleries up side by side and taste through them in one evening.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sherry, raisin and a dry nutty note. There is a green freshness beneath the sweetness that many associate with Glenfarclas.

Palate

Full and round. Dark fruit, malt and a mild spiced warmth. Medium body with clear sherry character.

Finish

Medium length with nuts, dried fruit and a light dry oak note.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas Miniature 12 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 5 cl 43%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks

Flavour profile

Sherried · Raisin · Nutty · Malty · Mild spice

Did you know?

The Family Casks was launched in 2007 with a bottling from every single vintage between 1952 and 1994. That requires somebody to have left the casks untouched for over fifty years, and few distilleries are able to do it.

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Three different oaks, three different continents — Triple Oak is Glenfiddich's attempt to gather the world in a single glass.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Triple Oak is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american bourbon cask, European oak cask and Caribbean rum cask and bottled at 40%. The whisky combines spirit matured in an American bourbon cask, a European oak cask and a Caribbean cask that previously held rum. The three cask types are married into a light, approachable style that differs from Glenfiddich's more classic sherry- and bourbon-matured releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, ripe banana and a light caramel sweetness.

Palate

Soft and sweet with tropical fruit, honey and a touch of spiced oak.

Finish

Short to medium, sweet and light.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Triple Oak Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon cask, European oak cask and Caribbean rum cask
Edition: Triple Oak

Flavour profile

Light · Sweet · Fruity · Soft

Did you know?

Triple Oak was created specifically for travel retail markets and is sold mainly in airports outside Denmark, which makes it less well known than Glenfiddich's core range.

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Caoran means 'glowing ember' in Gaelic — a name that hints at more fire than you would normally associate with a Glenfiddich.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Caoran Reserve is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, with a touch of peated malt and bottled at 40%. Caoran Reserve was created for travel retail markets and combines Glenfiddich's classic ex-bourbon- and sherry-matured whisky with a touch of peated malt. The result is a 12 Years Old edition with a light smoky dimension not found in the distillery's regular core range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears and honey, with a delicate hint of smoke in the background.

Palate

Soft and lightly smoky with pear sweetness, malt and a mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, lightly smoky and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Caoran Reserve Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, with a touch of peated malt
Edition: Caoran Reserve - travel retail edition
EAN no.: 5010327323114

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Fresh · Pear-sweet · Round

Did you know?

The name Caoran refers to the whisky's light smoky character — a rare crossover between Glenfiddich's classic style and a hint of peated malt.

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Sometimes it isn't the whisky that's different, but the frame around it. The Limited Design edition wraps the classic Glenfiddich 12 Years Old in a label you won't find on the shelf every day.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Limited Design Our Original Twelve is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky itself is identical to Our Original Twelve and matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks. What makes the bottle special is the specially designed label, which turns it into a natural seasonal or collector's bottle alongside the everyday edition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

Light and soft, with pear and malt sweetness carried by mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Limited Design Our Original Twelve Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: Limited Design - specially designed label

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich has launched specially designed labels for the 12 Years Old several times over the years, often in collaboration with artists or for particular occasions.

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Some whiskies you remember forever because they were the first. For a great many whisky drinkers around the world, that bottle is a Glenfiddich 12 Years Old.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Original Twelve is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. Our Original Twelve is Glenfiddich's best-selling release and the very foundation of the range. It matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, giving the fresh, pear-driven style Glenfiddich is known for worldwide.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

Light and soft, with pear and malt sweetness carried by mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing, with a final hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Our Original Twelve Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: Our Original Twelve
EAN no.: 5010327025155

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich was the first Scotch distillery to actively market single malt whisky outside Scotland, back in 1963 — a decision that effectively created the category as we know it today.

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Sometimes the best whisky is simply the one you know best. This 1 litre bottle is the same classic Glenfiddich 12 Years Old, just in a format that goes a little further.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old 1 litre is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in american ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky matures in a combination of American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks, exactly like the distillery's well-known 70cl bottle, and offers the same fresh, pear-driven character that has made Glenfiddich 12 Years Old one of the world's best-selling single malt whiskies.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh pears, delicate florals and a touch of oak.

Palate

Light and soft, with pear and malt sweetness carried by mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 1 litre
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: American ex-bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Edition: 1 litre format
EAN no.: 5010327324128

Flavour profile

Fresh · Pear-sweet · Soft · Light

Did you know?

Glenfiddich 12 Years Old sells more bottles each year than most other single malt whiskies could ever dream of — hence the extra-large 1 litre format.

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In the middle of the warehouse stands an enormous oak vat, where Glenfiddich's whisky makers marry different cask types together, much like a sherry solera. This is where the 15 Years Old gets its own personality.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 15 Years Old Our Solera Fifteen is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks, new oak casks and European sherry casks, married in Glenfiddich's own Solera vat and bottled at 40%. Our Solera Fifteen combines whisky from ex-bourbon casks, new oak casks and European sherry casks, all passed through Glenfiddich's own Solera vat before bottling. The method delivers a smooth, round and deeper character without losing the freshness the distillery is known for.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, toasted walnuts and a light spiced aroma of cloves.

Palate

Creamy and round with caramel, orange peel and a warm, sherry-driven spice.

Finish

Medium and soft, with a final sweetness of honey and oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 15 Years Old Our Solera Fifteen Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks, new oak casks and European sherry casks, married in Glenfiddich's own Solera vat
Edition: Our Solera Fifteen
EAN no.: 5010327325125

Flavour profile

Round · Creamy · Spiced · Honeyed

Did you know?

Glenfiddich's Solera vat is never fully emptied — a portion is always left behind for the new whisky to marry with, just like traditional sherry production in Jerez.

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There is a quietness to Glenfiddich's best whiskies — a sense that nothing has been rushed. Our Small Batch Eighteen is one of the clearest examples of that philosophy.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Our Small Batch Eighteen is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in selected Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks and bottled at 40%. The whisky is drawn from a small number of hand-selected casks, mainly Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks, married in smaller batches than the rest of Glenfiddich's range. That gives it a more personal, slightly varying character from batch to batch, while the distillery's classic style still shines through.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe apples and pears alongside honey, toasted almonds and a touch of spiced oak.

Palate

Creamy and round, with caramel, dried fruit and a warm, sherry-driven spice.

Finish

Medium and soft, with a final hint of dark chocolate and oak.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Our Small Batch Eighteen Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years old
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Selected Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks
Edition: Our Small Batch Eighteen
EAN no.: 5010327325323

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Creamy · Spiced · Round

Did you know?

Our Small Batch Eighteen is bottled in far smaller batches than Glenfiddich's 12 and 15 Years Old, which means no two bottles from different batches taste quite the same.

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Some bottles deserve a frame that matches their age. Ancient Reserve doesn't come in glass, but in a handcrafted ceramic bottle that looks like something pulled straight from an old warehouse.

Expert description

Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Ancient Reserve Ceramic is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks and bottled at 43%. The whisky matures for 18 years in a combination of Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks and is today a discontinued release from Glenfiddich's range. The distinctive ceramic bottle makes it as much a collector's item as a whisky to drink.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted almonds, dried apricot and a warm sherry sweetness.

Palate

Rich and spiced with caramel, dark chocolate and a deep, round oak.

Finish

Long, warm and spiced, with a final hint of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Glenfiddich 18 Years Old Ancient Reserve Ceramic Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Glenfiddich
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years old
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso sherry casks and American oak casks
Edition: Ancient Reserve - ceramic bottle
EAN no.: 5010327300672

Flavour profile

Sherry-matured · Rich · Spiced · Round

Investment potential

Medium. Ancient Reserve is a discontinued release in a handcrafted ceramic bottle, and discontinued bottlings with distinctive packaging tend to grow more sought-after as time passes.

Did you know?

The ceramic bottle for Ancient Reserve was created to give the release an appearance matching its age and character — a detail Glenfiddich has rarely repeated in later releases.

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