Notes: The Highlands have a few different sub regions and styles- this one is considered a Speyside by location and style/profile.

Glenfiddich or “Valley of the Deer”, was established in 1887 and is owned by the same people who make Balvenie. This company has a range of malts 12,15,18, 21, 30,40, and 50 year-olds, and a number of special bottlings.One of the better known industry heavyweights in the Single Malt category.

Uses smaller pot stills to make it’s whisky and a variety of woods to age them in. In this case they use one of the most complex aging processes in the industry. It starts off in either a bourbon, sherry, or new oak cask. It is then blended with the 2 other casks in a large Solera Vat (which is always kept at least half full of previously married whisky then transferred to Solera Tuns for a finishing/resting period before it is bottled).

Appearance: Pleasing reddish gold, nice edge line on the glass when you swirl it, smooth layer of whiskey on swirling.

First Impression: Light-to-medium peat smoke, honey, heather, sherry malt/toffee, pepper, and oak.

Taste: Nice oily feel to the malt. Medium-weight mouth feel (for a scotch) Nice layers of oloroso sherry and a touch of sweetness then malt and heather. Nice malty body. Finish is buttery nuts, oak, spice, a little pepper.

Drinks: Decent spirits glass (Riedel or better yet Celtic Malts Spirits Glass) glass only use in a cocktail that is subtle and well proportioned- you wouldn’t want to lose the layers of taste this has.

Cigars: Yes, but something light – try a Natural Wrapper or Connecticut Shade Ashton maybe?

Bottle: Traditional Glenfiddich rounded triangular bottle however the glass is a lighter shade of green (with a lighter older looking matching label) than the deep green of the more well known 12 year old (which has the relatively bold black and gold label). Comes in a presentation shipping tube. Real cork closure.

Final Thoughts: Elements of the taste of this one hint at much older scotch in the blending. Nice complexity and layers of flavors to this one, but still pleasant and easy to drink. Nicely done. A good choice and a easy to find bottle if you are looking for a 18 year- old Single Malt.

Web site: http://www.glenfiddich.com

Website is an odd mix of the extremely detailed (on how to visit) but short on history,background or pictures of the distillery. Still, that being said ,worth a visit.