43,2°
Distillery : Glenfiddich - Speyside
American Bourbon Barrels and Rum Finish
Original Bottling
Limited Edtion
Single Malt
Bottled in 2011
Totally Unpeated
Glenfiddich is one of the last three great family distilleries in Scotland, and for that reason it deserves special attention. Here we have a 21-year-old aged in American casks before a 4-month finish in Caribbean rum casks. When the first batch was made at the end of the 1990s, it was called 21 YO Havana Reserve, but the blockade of Cuba posed a problem. The name was changed to Caribbean Rum, and then to Gran Reserva, which seemed to sell relatively better. Today, it's called La Reserva, and we're on batch 82. Batch 35 is unique in that it is sold at an alcohol content of 43.2°, whereas almost all the others have a minimum alcohol content of 40°.
Let's Taste It :
First, there's a hint of spring countryside, with vegetables, courgettes, pumpkin, and floral scents, daisies, dahlias. Then the freshness of the rum takes over, with cane sugar, delicately minty, and we have a beautiful marriage, a certain depth. That said, it's not that complex. A few white plums. Coconut. Banana leaf. Nice fullness. A little vanilla, mirabelle plums. Icing sugar on the palate, lemony, with some light spices. Paprika, saffron. Cereals and a gentle bitterness. Malty finish, light tobacco, dry earth, cooked ham. Loukoum. Sesame seeds. Not so long. Steamed rice.
In Short,
For a 21-year-old, frankly, it's not great. I suspect that cold filtration erased a good part of the aromas. The whole is rather shy, not very original, the only interesting note is due to the rum finish, but in 4 months you can't do anything very impressive. Finally, it's really expensive for what it is. To be avoided in my humble opinion.
Score : 86
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
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