Sometimes I have a good laugh at all those crazy whisky prices. Take the Glenfiddich 33 yo 1975 / 2009 for example. Until a few days ago, this Dutch web site tried to sell it for € 1499 (claiming in a newsletter that this is a bargain as it has recently been auctioned for € 2835). At the same time, this French website still had stock at the more reasonable price of € 398. Right…

This aside, it should be an interesting bottle. The 1975 vintage was selected for the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Glenfiddich visitor centre. It was drawn from cask #22000, a European oak sherry butt.

Glenfiddich 33 yo 1975
(53,7%, OB 2009, cask #22000, 520 btl.)

Nose: fruity and vibrant. Dried apricot, tangerine and quite some orange skin. Nicely balanced oak. Subtle vanilla. Dates. A rather subtle sherry cask, with slightly sour Mandarine Napoleon / orange oil notes which really lift the nose. Fruit cake. Nice old leather as well. Lovely. Mouth: develops on orange marmalade but it grows spicier, with cinnamon, a hint of pepper and nutmeg. Shows a good balance between the oak tannins (which are certainly present) and the fruity sweetness. Light vanilla again. Hints of liquorice in the end. Finish: oaky and spicy with some dark chocolate. Medium length.

A very good Glenfiddich with an individual nose and a palate with quite some oak, but nicely integrated with the rest of the flavours. Great subtle sherry influence. Thanks for the sample swap, Anthony!

Score: 91/100

ps/ Whiskysite.nl usually has good prices by the way, but this was just crazy. I just came back from vacation and I’ve noticed that both websites seem to have sold out very recently.