Tasted #54: Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary 1987 Vintage

Back in October I posted about the fantastic dinner William Grant & Sons Australia put on to celebrate the 125th Anniversary Vintage. That was a pretty detailed post, but the Cliff's Notes are: 286 bottles worldwide, 9 in Australia, cask strength, $1,250AUD, incredible.

I didn't post tasting notes back then because the article was getting a bit lengthy, and because the whisky was so damn good it deserved its own tasting post. So now here it is.

Glenfiddich 125th Anniversary Vintage (55.2% ABV, 25yo, Speyside Scotland, $1,250AUD)

Colour: Rich and dark copper. It's obviously been busy during its 25 years soaking up oak.

Nose: Maple syrup. Rich, syrupy (like an aged sipping rum), creamy, but also with hints of fresh grass, just to keep it interesting.

Palate: Big (it is 55.2% afterall) but smooth, and with so much happening all at once - spice, leather, toffee, even a bit of a citrus tang. Super complex.

Finish: Long, rich, slight plum notes, a hint of port. Did I say long?

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 98/100 (of the 54 whiskies I've tasted for this blog so far, equal only to the Glenfiddich 40yo). I love a whisky that has a lot going on - to me, that's complexity. A real mix of flavours and smells, often ones that don't necessarily complement each other. Like leather and citrus, nuts and fresh grass. To me, that's the mark of a good whisky, and this has it in spades.


Cheers,

Martin.