Glenfiddich 23 Year Grand Cru Review
In-Depth Review
Glenfiddich needs no introduction. Started by William Grant in 1886, Glenfiddich has risen to become the world’s most popular single malt Scotch whisky. Amazingly, Glenfiddich – meaning valley of the deer – is still run by the fifth generation Grant family and is one of the only major family run distilleries left in Scotland. And with annual production sitting above 21 million liters of whisky a year, its bottles can be found everywhere. Anywhere you can find a drink, you can probably find Glenfiddich.
Today, we are going to jump into one of their more premium offerings – a 23 year Grand Cru expression that’s been finished in rare French cuvee casks. This is aged for 23 years in a combination of American and European oak before finishing for upwards of 6 months in cuvee casks sourced from the the Grand Cru region of France. It is bottled at a disappointing - but expected of Glenfiddich - ABV of 40% with no mention of coloring. Adorned in a beautiful decorative box and with a retail price that fluctuates around $350, this is not your hotel bar Glenfiddich. Instead, this attempts to appeal to a more discerning customer – looking for a bit of flair with every pour. So, let’s dive in and see if the whisky inside justifies the higher price point and beautiful presentation!
Age: 23 Years Old
ABV: 40%
Cask: Combination of American and European oak, finished in French cuvee casks.
MSRP: (Around $350)
Distillery Name: Glenfiddich Distillery
Review Date: 1/17/25
Color: Golden Amber
Nose: The nose starts off with big fruity notes of green apple, pear, and coconut before moving into baked pie crust, toasted marshmallow, and light caramel. There’s an old malt funk lingering in the background that I’m absolutely loving. It’s a crisp, refreshing nose that blossoms into layers of delicious oak, French vanilla, baked fruit tart, and rich buttercream. Great start.
Palate: The palate leads with warming clove and allspice that gives way to toasted coconut, pie crust pastry, honeysuckle, and green grapes. The midpalate hits with some of wine influence, with a lovely effervescence as you move into the finish. The aged oak rounds out any of the potentially sharp edges and provides a subtle bass note to the palate but the 40% ABV unfortunately leaves the mouthfeel feeling thin.
Finish: Nice, warming medium length finish that features more clove, flat lemon lime soda, and a lingering note of vintage oak and malt funk.
Final Thoughts: It’s hard to imagine that a $300+ bottle of whisky like Glenfiddich’s 23 Year Grand Cru can be so easily drinkable. Typically, bottles in this price range are fiery, complex, expressions that require focus and a sense of adventure to get through. But after spending a few weeks with this bottle, I found myself consistently going back to it for its lovely, refreshing demeanor. It’s gentle yet complex, with layers upon layers of malty, fruity character with rounded edges and great balance. My major compliant is to be expected – this should be bottled higher than 40% ABV – because the mouthfeel is the weakest part of the experience. It’s a disappointment but doesn’t wildy detract from the overall experience. So, while the specs alone don’t justify its $300+ price point, it’s hard to deny that within the bottle lies some excellent whisky.
