Glenfiddich Project XX (‘Project Twenty’) is part of a new Experimental Series, together with the Glenfiddich IPA. Glenfiddich may not have a long-time fame for being the most creative or experimental distillery, but they’re proving us wrong by releasing the first of supposedly many new, unique experiments. The concepts will be very wide, from wood experiments over different yeast strains and malt types to conceptual compositions.
Project XX is a vatting made by all twenty brand ambassadors of Glenfiddich. They came together at the distillery and picked six casks each, based on the age, wood type and other details. The next day they could sample them and select their favourite. These twenty casks (a mix of Port pipes, sherry butts, first-fill bourbon casks and more) were vatted by master blender Brian Kinsman to form the final whisky.
Glenfiddich Project XX
(47%, OB 2016)
Glenfiddich Project XXNose: classic intro, mostly on fresh orange juice, ripe apples, apricot jam and a hint of pineapple sweets. Juicy barley, with golden raisins and hints of cinnamon. Some lightly toasted oak in the background, with some nutmeg.
Mouth: sweet and spicy. Again some beautifully fruity notes, slightly darker now (oranges, stewed apples but also dates). Hints of caramel and milk chocolate, with light nutty notes. Citrus peel. A little pepper and an oaky twist.
Finish: medium long, drier, mostly on spices (European oak) and slight leafy notes.
Project XX is well composed. It starts fruity and summery on the nose, becomes more leafy and sherried on the palate, with growing oak. Different characters of Glenfiddich in one dram. Around € 55.
Score: 86/100