Review 170: Glenfiddich 18

This is the follow-up to the Glenlivet 18 year old review. Both the Glenfiddich and Glenlivet 18 year olds are percieced as high-shelf single malts, so let's see how these popular brands compare. I've already compared Glenfiddich 12 to Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 15 to Glenlivet 15. Both times I've prefered the Glenfiddich offerings. Let's see if that changes here!

Glenfiddich 18

Color: Amber +0
 
ABV: 43%

Aroma Neat:
Cooked Apples, Smooth Nutmeg, Easy Cinnamon, Tinned Pears (and the tin!), Sweet Barley Sugar, Golden Syrup, Cooked Peaches, Confectioner's Sugar (slightly), Past-Ripe Banana, Plums/Jammy Grapes (slightly), Oily Smoke/Coal (very slightly).

This has a richer and fuller nose than the Glenlivet 18, but isn't as forward with the fresh fruits. Still, I prefer this nose as it is more well rounded.

Aroma Water:
Oily Smoke (olive oil too, a bit),  Banana Peels, Apple Skins, Bosc Pears, Barley Malt/Oatmeal Cookies, Cooked Peaches/Nectarine Juice, Corn Syrup, Steel Wool/Metallic, Medium-Dark Chocolate (slightly).

Whoa! A ton of rich, flowing oily notes come out with water. There is even a pleasing, though very subtle smokiness (not peaty), present.

Taste Neat:
Syrupy Oak, Stewed Apples, Cinnamon, Malted Barley (bitter and sweet!), Thin Honey, Cinnamon Graham Crackers, Metallic (copper/steel), Boiled Fruits.

Tasty palate with well moderated sweetness and nice chewy quality. Far better mouthfeel than the Glenlivet 18.

Taste Water:
Oak Chips, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Boiled Fruits, Stewed Apples, Barrel Char, Bitterish Malt Barley, Oily Smoke.

Not too different from neat, but holds up well to water. Still oily and coating... But isn't this chill filtered??? Must be good spirit.

Finish:
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Oily Coal/Barrel Char, Boiled Fruits, Raw Almonds/Nuttiness (slightly), Ginger (slightly), Copper.

Shortish/medium duration. Tasty and appropriately drying and bitter. Well done.

Conclusion:
Very good nose with or without water. Almost textured (is that even a thing?).

Well balanced palate that shows moderate oak character, grain influence, and boiled fruits.

Finish that's in good keeping with the palate, with a lingering metallic note (that I like).

Rating: 85/100

This is an OB I'd actually like to have on hand, because I'd happily drink it myself  and use it for my favored guests, who may not perfer an wild single cask malt whisky. This is just a high quality, easy drinking single malt that delivers respectable performance in all aspects. This should be my reference whisky... Eh, that may be a tad pricy!

So if you can't tell, I am unapologetically in the Glenfiddich camp in the great battle of the uber-popular single malts. Glenfiddich 18 is way better than the Glenlivet 18, imho. So there!

Josh