Name: Glenfiddich Age of Discovery Madeira
Brand: Glenfiddich
Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)

Age of Discovery is a new series by Glenfiddich, celebrating the Portuguese explorers in the 15th Century. The first release is this 19 year-old finished in Madeira casks which were brought over from the Canterio warehouse of Henriques & Henriques, a famous Madeira producer.

Glenfiddich 19 yo ‘Age of Discovery’ (40%, OB 2011, Madeira finish)

Nose: fresh and quite luscious. Starts with plenty of sparkling fruity notes: apricot, peach, juicy pear, gooseberries. After a while it moves to sweeter notes of vanilla, a little marzipan, honey and fruit pies. Subtle oak. Also a very soft earthy hint of moss or tobacco leafs. How nice!

Mouth: smooth but very lightweight and slightly winey. Not overly sweet. Lots of oranges, with spicy hints of ginger, pepper and cinnamon. Balanced oak. Hints of toffee towards the end. Silenced by the lack of strength.

Finish: still fairly dry and gingery. Marmalade, vanilla and nutty notes. Medium long.

It started with a lovely nose and plenty of freshness, but it’s lacking oomph to really stand out in the mouth. A complex Glenfiddich, probably one of the best finishes I’ve ever had. Too bad it’s so soft! Around € 100.

Score: 85/100

5Comments

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1

Bert B. on 23 October 2011 at 19:26

It should be forbidden by law to bottle whisky at 40%.

Cheers,
B. !!!
2

Gal Granov on 23 October 2011 at 21:33

Bert, i agree.

48% and up 😉 willing to pay an extra buck
3

aw on 24 October 2011 at 09:39

I can understand companies wanting to continue bottling their populist, entry-level malts at 40%, and refusing to budge. But to introduce a new, specialist range at 40% in this day and age indicates that the people behind Glenfiddich (Dalmore too) really are stuck in the past.

Such a shame. Up until recently I had a downer on 43% whiskies too, and avoided them, but the Macallan 18, Lagavulin 16 and Nikka Taketsuru 21 (too name three) are just too good.

Whisky producers: this is the 21st century. 46% minimum, non-chillfiltered. Thank you.
4

petr on 27 October 2011 at 21:03

They´ve maybe fallen behind with such a strengt and chillfiltering but caramel colouring – why in thunderation? It´s just a shameless ignorance I can´t understand.

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