Glenfiddich 30 Years Old 1987 Rare Collection

By Barry Bradford on October 18, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Rare Collection Cask No. 20050 (56.7%, OB, Cask #20050, 200 Bottles, 2019)

ABV: 56.7%
Age: 30 Years Old
Bottling: OB
Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
Cost: £1,600 available from Glenfiddich Distillery
Origin: Glenfiddich Distillery
Vintage: 1987

What they say

In the summer of 1969, under the stewardship of Charles and Sandy Gordon, the great grandsons of William Grant, Glenfiddich became the first distillery to open a dedicated Visitor Centre so we could welcome visitors from around the world into our home of whisky.

Now in 2019, as we celebrate our Visitor Centre’s Golden Anniversary, we are pleased to present the latest addition to our celebrated Glenfiddich Rare Cask Collection.

Hand selected by Brian Kinsman to be bottled as a single cask, this whisky laid down on Christmas Day 1987, our centenary year. Matured in American Oak Hogsheads this 30 year old spirit is a true connoisseur’s choice with a host of seductive flavours and subtle aromas.

Official tasting notes:

COLOUR Walnut.
NOSE Rich Christmas cake, woody spice and warm dried fruits, hints of cinnamon, antique leather and coffee grinds with a subtle citrus note enveloped in vanilla sweetness.
TASTE Layers of silky smooth, rich and fruity with a sweet spicy flavour and incredible deep darkness.
FINISH Long lasting, sweet oakiness.

What I say

Distilled at Glenfiddich distillery back in 1987 and matured in American oak cask for over 30 years, this latest edition to the Glenfiddich Rare Cask Collection was bottled in celebration of 50 years of the distillery visitor centre opening! I can safely say this is the first of Glenfiddich’s rare cask collection I have ever tasted.

This post was sponsored by Glenfiddich by gifting of a sample of this product.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Dark amber gold (11/20), rare medium tears and fine legs.
Nose: Gentle and sweet, redolent of dried fruits and sherry, old leather, malty cereal barley, gentle oak wood and creme brulee top / caramelised muscovado sugar and dark vanilla essence.
Taste: Fresh, a little spiced oak wood, sherried dried fruits, tobacco leaf, leather, Christmas cake, figs and dates in brandy, some musty dunnage warehouse and antique shop, earthy old wood with the hint of a coal fire or coal dust.
Finish: Long, slightly fizzy sherbet from tannic aged wood and white pepper spice.

Overall

A fantastically aged Glenfiddich, the masses of dried fruits and tannic and leathery rancio notes of wood and tobacco had me, possibly along with the colour, convinced this may have seen sherry wood during its maturation? They state officially american oak which doesn’t preclude sherry per se but now I’m wondering if this is just a combination of Glenfiddich’s spirit and a long maturation in ex-bourbon casks? Regardless this is a supreme whisky well worthy of inclusion in the rare cask collection and a delightful celebration of Glenfiddich’s 50 years open to the public!