Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The first bottle for month 1 is the Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch whisky from Speyside - technically in the Highlands but enough of a region to be considered in its own right. Straight out of the box was an unexpected surprise. Previous tastes of the 18 year old provided a nicely finished, mature and deeper whisky than the 15 year old. What is different about this bottle is that it is a small batch with each bottle numbered with the batch (handwritten mind you). This batch was 3306. It has spent its life thus far aging in Oloroso sherry and Bourbon oak casks before being combined and aged further as a batch for another 3 months. It will now spend the next 30-60 minutes of its life being tasted and enjoyed by me.
In the glass the whisky is darker and richer in colour as you would expect for an 18 year old. To the nose there were notes of burnt aubergine and aged cheddar with crushed caraway undertones. Or not really. It was actually quite ‘fresh’ with citrus coming through predominantly. I was expecting more oak to come through but was pleasantly surprised to get that classical Glenfiddich taste.