tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post7558917621670177728..comments2024-03-16T11:28:41.525-04:00Comments on Diving for Pearls: 'Fiddich Fever: Glenfiddich 14 year old Rich OakMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02288790197865570681noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-43555261153581199042015-10-15T21:59:02.000-04:002015-10-15T21:59:02.000-04:00Well, I decided to grab a bottle since the BevMo p...Well, I decided to grab a bottle since the BevMo price is normally $55. This is a very sweet Glenfiddich thankfully (almost bourbon sweet). The new oak finish appears to have upped the vanilla sweetness but did not add any bitter wood notes. The problem is that this Glenfiddich is still a bit thin texture-wise despite being bottled at 43%.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-88469164655105900582015-10-15T11:58:39.425-04:002015-10-15T11:58:39.425-04:00Yeah, I saw that one down here too. I think Total ...Yeah, I saw that one down here too. I think Total Wine had it priced between the 12 and 15. I truly hope these new oak finishes are a short term fad.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-40413276995450904772015-10-14T02:33:24.934-04:002015-10-14T02:33:24.934-04:00I just noticed today at BevMo the US exclusive Gle...I just noticed today at BevMo the US exclusive Glenfiddich 14 year old Bourbon Barrel Reserve. It's not a US version of Toasted Oak though. From the description on the label, the whisky spent 14 years in used bourbon barrels and then finished in new oak. The weird thing is that it appears to be priced at $50 plus making it more expensive than the 15. But BevMo had the bottles on sale for $47.99 so I might pick up a bottle to try,Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-1547912294186737532014-04-23T18:01:41.919-04:002014-04-23T18:01:41.919-04:00I'm glad I stayed away from the old one then. ...I'm glad I stayed away from the old one then. This new one sounds more like my style. Could be Glen Garioch. The Clynelish indies have almost vanished, but it's possible that some casks roll out into the wild via blender swapping and then can only be released without the name attached. In any case, good catch by Alexander Murray and Co.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-49321232135529520732014-04-23T10:25:18.572-04:002014-04-23T10:25:18.572-04:00I had a bottle of the dark TJ 10yo and it was undr...I had a bottle of the dark TJ 10yo and it was undrinkable - I stayed away from it ever since, until now. This one is much better. I don't know how unsherried Dalmore tastes like; based on my limited experience it doesn't taste like Teaninich - I like Teaninich, by the way. The mouthfeel is distinctive in this TJ, and this is a signature of the whisky, rather than of the barrels - especially since it's so thick and oily at only 40%. That's why Clynelish and Glen Garioch come to mind. Of course, it could be 20 other distilleries, if they are being coy and it's in fact a Speyside. Plenty of other Highland possibilities as well, more remote based on taste and/or market reality: Old Pulteney, Glenmorangie, Glen Ord, Dalwhinnie, Tomatin...Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-45280755011826114902014-04-22T15:19:21.294-04:002014-04-22T15:19:21.294-04:00How is the GG 10yo stag label? I've seen it ar...How is the GG 10yo stag label? I've seen it around. I used to love the old 15yo.<br /><br />Interesting that TJs may have changed their single malt. By labeling it "Highland Single Malt" I guess that allows them the freedom to do so. Part of the reason I never went for the previous version was because it was so dark, as you mentioned. It announced e150a. The only other Highlander possibilities I can think of is un-sherried Dalmore (there used to be a TJ's Dalmore once upon a time) or Teaninich, big ol' whisky factories.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-27708564354505738552014-04-21T23:34:08.026-04:002014-04-21T23:34:08.026-04:00Yeah, a couple years ago this corner liquor store ...Yeah, a couple years ago this corner liquor store in my neighborhood was trying to get rid of Glen Garioch 10yo (stag label) for $16.99 and it took them a while. I helped as much as I could.<br /><br />On this note, I just opened a bottle of Trader Joe's Highland Single Malt 10yo, $20. The first impression is quite positive! Not a world beater but certainly a pleasant sipper. I noticed a few months ago that the color got appealingly pale - they used to be sickeningly dark. It has a surprisingly heavy, oily body for 40% abv; nose and taste malty and fruity, with a dash of lemon oil; medium finish (some caramel bitterness). It likes air. No identifying elements on the label; my bottle code is something like L13V354 5 (December 2013? Consistent with the purchase date.) If I had to guess a distillery I'd say Glen Garioch; could be Clynelish but that would be unlike Diageo's mo.Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-73259335794513517072014-04-15T16:08:41.608-04:002014-04-15T16:08:41.608-04:00Can still find the old label 10yo for under $20 ou...Can still find the old label 10yo for under $20 out here. I think stores are trying to get rid of it but customers still don't know any better. A single malt selling for $17.99 sounds suspicious.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-69863759928146784042014-04-15T14:59:52.766-04:002014-04-15T14:59:52.766-04:00... or get a Speyburn 10yo and burn the fiver.... or get a Speyburn 10yo and burn the fiver.Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-28298315987858065592014-04-15T13:31:06.019-04:002014-04-15T13:31:06.019-04:00Better be careful about exposing OR's untold r...Better be careful about exposing OR's untold riches lest Northern Californians start doing road trips to clear it out...Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-71857378977973935932014-04-15T13:30:07.538-04:002014-04-15T13:30:07.538-04:00Ditto. That's why I have a difficult time spen...Ditto. That's why I have a difficult time spending more than $25 for a blend when I can get GF12 at Trader Joe's for the same price.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-41922901855234681962014-04-15T13:04:38.056-04:002014-04-15T13:04:38.056-04:00There's one more on the OR border. Too far for...There's one more on the OR border. Too far for me to drive, I'm going to see if my buddy can pick it up when he's going through the area later this year.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-72108753673177166302014-04-15T12:11:57.402-04:002014-04-15T12:11:57.402-04:00I enjoy the 12yo even watered down. But I do agre...I enjoy the 12yo even watered down. But I do agree that the high strength in the DE was worth it. Ooops! Let's wait...Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-10566608756683760142014-04-15T01:39:26.394-04:002014-04-15T01:39:26.394-04:00I remember when one of those casks came rolling th...I remember when one of those casks came rolling through Southern California. $100+ can be a bit steep. There might be a bar or two out here with a bottle. I'll definitely try it if they do.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-56385089669854244462014-04-15T01:32:22.957-04:002014-04-15T01:32:22.957-04:00Lucky dude. Can't find them in CA anymore.Lucky dude. Can't find them in CA anymore.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-25110927271391156992014-04-14T20:13:27.386-04:002014-04-14T20:13:27.386-04:00The Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams is similar to the R...The Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams is similar to the Rich Oak that you might want to try that one if you are willing to pay a premium price. Brian Kinsman chose a mix of 14 to 16 year old Glenfiddich which was also finished in new oak for 12 weeks. The virgin oak barrels were called Cask of Dreams because the 11 barrels were sent to 11 US cities and people were given the chance to sign the outside. Yeah, marketing departments are wonderful.<br /><br />As far as I can tell, the Cask of Dreams is all ex-bourbon.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13215982348779717643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-57556309694647477702014-04-14T17:53:57.952-04:002014-04-14T17:53:57.952-04:00Such a shame that it was pulled from the US market...Such a shame that it was pulled from the US market. Thankfully I still have a spare bottle.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-51235032005771825442014-04-14T17:31:07.961-04:002014-04-14T17:31:07.961-04:00Not to spoil Wednesday's review or anything, b...Not to spoil Wednesday's review or anything, but yes the DE is a whole other whisky. They really should do more of it.Diving for Pearlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373371259792882112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3101162324715983722.post-64268318940275171092014-04-14T17:21:42.972-04:002014-04-14T17:21:42.972-04:00So far, the DE has been the only Glenfiddich that ...So far, the DE has been the only Glenfiddich that really did it for me. The higher proof seems to be critical. It also proves that they have good malt, but it's washed out in the lower proof bottles.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.com