Glenfiddich IPA Cask ( 글렌피딕 IPA)

(한국어 시음기는 밑에 있어요!)

(I've temporarily changed the style of this review as it's part of a series I'm doing for an online tasting session. It's more brief, but it will also have a full Korean translation below it.)

The Glenfiddich IPA cask was one of the first releases in the brand's "Experimental" series of single malt whiskies and is finished for three months in ex-Glenfiddich oak casks that once contained a hoppy craft IPA beer.

Notably, it's also released at a higher ABV than the typical Glenfiddich release, which should in theory increase the intensity of the flavour profile compared to, say, the Glenfiddich 12 or 15.

Vitals:

ABV: 43%

Colour: Gold.

Chill-filtered: Yes.

Nose: Herbal at first with light hops and mint, but these notes soon morph into a sweet and herbal honey, with a touch of medicinal ginseng and the very faintest whiff of smoke. In the background there is a sweet candy note hanging around, almost like Korean grape candy, or even grape jelly. It's very mellow and subdued, but it's there. 19.5/25

Palate: Freshly ground black pepper and cinnamon bark at the front, giving a sharp, spicy note on the tongue. As this fades, vanilla, sweet honey and baked apples are drawn out from behind. The spiciness doesn't vanish completely though, it stays in the background, subdued. 22/25

Finish: As it draws to a relatively short finish, a slightly bitter coffee like note mixes with milk chocolate and red apples. 16/25

Conclusion:

An interesting mix of sweet and spicy flavours and despite the IPA cask finish, there is not much of a beer influence on this whisky other than in the nose. A little more complex than the 12, but still easy to drink once you adjust to the spicier palate.

Rating: 76.7%

Interesting interactions with other Glenfiddichs:

As I'm doing these reviews as part of an online testing session, I took the liberty to make comparisons of the palate and nose of this whisky after trying three other Glenfiddich expressions.

After trying the Glenfiddich 12: A prominent, if mild, smoke is drawn out on the nose, while the palate itself develops an earthy note that wasn't there before, and even the finish becomes smoky.

After trying the Glenfiddich Project XX: The grape note on the nose becomes stronger. It definitely now smells clearly like Korean grape flavoured hardboiled candies. On the palate, it becomes very sweet and a rose wine like note is present.

After trying the Glenfiddich Fire & Cane: The nose also develops a stronger grape character, but not quite as strongly as it does after drinking Project XX first. Surprisingly despite the now sweet nose, it becomes very woody and astringent upon tasting. That hop note from the nose finally appears on the palate.

한국어

시음평:

ABV: 43%

색깔: 금색

냉각 여과: 했음

향: 처음 홉과 민트향이 가볍게 느껴지더니 곧 달콤한 꿀 향이 올라옵니다. 좀 더 음미해보니 마치 꿀에 재워둔 인삼 향이 나는 것도 같고 아주 약한 스모키함이 있습니다. 재밌었던 건 마지막으로 느낀 향이 청포도 사탕입니다. 어찌나 청포도 사탕과 똑같던지 그 이후로는 다른 향이 느껴지지 않았습니다ㅎ 19.5/25

맛: 통후추를 막 갈았을 때와 계피나무와 같은 매콤함이 혀에서 강하게 느껴집니다. 뒤이어 바닐라와 꿀, 구운 사과와 같은 달콤함이 올라오는데 매운 맛이 꽤 오래 이어집니다. 22/25

끝맛: 피니시는 짧은 편이었습니다. 아메리카노, 밀크초콜릿, 사과와 같은 맛이 끝에서 느껴집니다. 16/25

결론:

IPA 캐스크임에도 불구하고 달콤함과 매콤함의 조화가 흥미로웠습니다. IPA가 향에서만 느껴지는게 좀 아쉬웠습니다. 글렌피딕 12보다는 좀 더 다채로웠지만 저에겐 좀 매운 위스키였습니다.

점수: 76.7%

다른 글렌피딕과의 비교 시음:

글렌피딕 12 시음 후 글렌피딕 IPA를 마셨을 때: 거의 느끼기 힘들었던 스모크 향이 분명하게 느껴졌습니다. 시음을 하니 흙 맛이 느껴졌고 끝 맛이 조금 스모키했습니다.

글렌피딕 프로젝트 XX 시음 후 글렌피딕 IPA를 마셨을 때: 청포도 사탕 향이 더욱 강해졌습니다ㅎㅎ 시음을 해보니 마치 로제와인을 마시는 것 같아 인상적이었습니다.

글렌피딕 파이어 & 케인 시음 후 글렌피딕 IPA를 마셨을 때: 역시 청포도 향이 느껴졌습니다. 이후 나무와 쓴 맛이 났는데 그게 바로 IPA 맛이었습니다!

Review by Glasgowhisky & Whiskycat2020

2020/03/14