Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 43%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Rum
Chillfiltered: Yes
Added coloring: Yes
Owner: William Grant & Sons
Average price: € 52.00
Official website: www.glenfiddich.com
Vote: 77/100
Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, has unleashed his flair in 2016 with the Experimental series, playing with different barrels and malt types with the intention of surprising fans of a whisky known for being the classic of classics.
There are four bottlings part of this experimental line: IPA Experiment, Project XX, Winter Storm (which we’ve already had a chance to talk about) and this Fire & Cane.
There are two distinctive features of this bottling: the three-month maturation in ex-Rum casks and, above all, the use of peated malt.
Peatiness is in fact very rare for this Speyside distillery, which makes this bottle an even more curious variation on the theme.
Tasting notes
On the nose the peat is more evident at a distance from the glass, when you get closer it’s the fruit (pineapple, coconut, green apple, pear) that becomes more incisive, with a metallic scent in the background. Citrus fruits are evident with grapefruit and lime, while a sweet note of vanilla and sugar icing appears along the length, with barbecue aspirations acting as spectators. A bit messy but all in all pleasant.
Light-bodied, it expresses a clear bitter profile on the palate, between rhubarb and rusty nail, with a bright spice (pepper, ginger, cloves) that, together with ashy tones, tends to cover up the flavors that struggle to emerge. Very savoury, it recalls pickled olives, salted caramel, a little yellow fruit (apple, pear), honey, brazil nut.
The finish is moderately long and bitterish, spicy, of brown sugar, used ashtray, citrus, nuts.
Not a very successful experiment, unbalanced, showing elements of interest not expressed to their full potential. A few more degrees would (perhaps) have helped, this way it remains a curiosity and little more.
Other perspectives:
The Whiskey Jug