As I reach the end of this leg of my whisky journey, it is time to draw some conclusions. Which of the three entry level Glen whiskies did I find the best? Would I keep one of these bottles permanently in my collection? Since this is a journey of exploration, did these drams make me want to explore their respective brands further?
I could do this in my head, but finding a more practical approach to solidify these conclusions is more enjoyable. A blind tasting seems the right way to go about it.
If you want to know why I think blind tastings are a great way to practice tasting skills, jump at the end.
Tasting notes
All the drams were sampled individually and then compared among each other
1 (blue) Apple, honey, vanilla and pear are very strong on the nose, there is also some lemon, some floral notes, a touch of malt and some raisins toward the finish. The taste is simpler, with some apple, raisins, a hint of oak and malt. Medium finish, quite dry. Comparing this side by side to the other two this is by far the most intense aroma-wise. It becomes even more apple, pear, honey and lemon. The taste on the other hand, especially after dram no.2 seems more diluted.
The strong apple and pear notes make me think this is probably Glenfiddich 12.
2 (magenta) Quite a lot of apples on this one too, but more malt, an almost cologne-like note and tangerine rather than lemon and then… bam! That green tree sap that I disliked before comes out after a few minutes in the glass. This is definitely the Glenlivet (and the previous one must therefore be Glenfiddich). The taste, specially tested side by side with the other two is malty and rich. There is some drying oak, especially on the finish but not in an unpleasant way.
If this is indeed the Glenlivet 12, it actually comes out better sampled in company than tasted on its own
3 (yellow) By far the weakest of the lot. I struggle to get clear notes and in part, the order is to blame. Putting a weaker drink after more flavourful or full-bodied ones in a blind inevitably makes the former feel even weaker than it is. There is some creamy peach, orange some chemical vanillin. The taste is sweet, slightly orangey and pretty watered down. Tasting it side by side with the other drams does not change the situation much. It remains a fruity, sweet citrus, light dram.
Compared to the previous two this is a lot easier to identify, no doubt it is the Glenmorangie 10.
How did I do guessing the whiskies?
Absolutely and completely: 3/3. I didn’t expect to be able to pick up the identity of each of the whiskies as easily as I did, but in hindsight, this was an easy one. Comparing the three drams side by side highlighted the main characteristics I identified in the individual reviews. Glenfiddich became more appley and floral. Glenlivet’s maltiness and green vegetal note jumped up in intensity and the peachy. Finally, delicate Glenmorangie was overpowered by its competitors.
In the end, which Glen whisky came out as the best entry level one. Who is the queen of the Glens?
Third and Second Place
I have a harder time deciding between third and second than who is first.
On one hand, the Glenlivet 12 beats Glenmorangie 10 for the intensity and complexity it shows. If you love malt forward or oaky whiskies, this would no doubt come on top.
On the other, if I judge by the elegance and harmony of aromas and taste of the whisky, Glenmorangie, even weak as it is, is a more pleasant dram. If you tend towards clean fruit notes and a lack of woody character this might be your winner.
In the end, I am choosing based on which one I would reach for more often if given a choice, and so (drumroll please)…
3rd place The Glenlivet 12 Double Oak
2nd place Glenmorangie the Original 10
Which leaves:
My winner
Glenfiddich our Original 12
Compared to the other two whiskies in the tasting, the Glenfiddich 12 has something special when it comes to the aromas on the nose. Don’t expect a huge complexity, it has an evocative power. The aromas themselves are clear and generally appealing but somehow the apple, pear, honey, lemon and floral notes manage to be evocative. I can close my eyes, sniff this dram and be transported to a fruit orchard on a warm early autumn day.
Admittedly the taste and finish are much simpler and don’t live up to the aromas. And so Glenfiddich is the winner of best entry level Glen whisky by a nose, literally.
Would I buy any of these bottles again?
At this stage, I am probably not going to repurchase any of these three bottles. There is so much more to explore out there, so my money will go first to growing my collection. Considering I was quite sceptical about even trying these bottles, I am glad I did. The experience certainly made me re-evaluate my opinion of these brands. It also made me curious to explore more, although with a caveat.
Will I explore any of these brands further?
All three whiskies were nicer or at least more intense on the nose than on the palate, which I suspect has to do with ABV content. Since all are 40% ABV bottles it makes me curious about how these would taste if bottled at a higher ABV. I will leave the obvious Independent Bottlers and their secret distillery names aside for a later time and focus on the official releases.
Glenfiddich has two special releases that I would be curious to try. I’d love to see if I could find similar aromas and flavours but also a higher intensity of taste. The Orchard Experiment, aged in apple spirit casks and Project XX, a selection of 20 individual barrels (mainly bourbon), both seem like intriguing follow-ups to the 12.
For Glenmorangie both the 14 year old Quinta Ruban (Port finish) and 16 year old Nectar d’Or (Sautern finish) up the alcohol to 46% ABV. My hope is that this could overcome the dilution of aromas and flavours I got in the 10. Of the two I would (price permitting) choose the Nectar d’Or. The Sauternes cask finish is more likely to enhance but also keep the bright fruity character of the spirit which I appreciated in the 10.
Although I am not a fan of the Glenlivet 12, I know this distillery can make some great whisky. A great example (although in a different style) is the Glenlivet Nadurra. I had a couple of different ones in the past, before the price started to climb, and enjoyed them thoroughly. The whisky-web crowd seems to love the Illicit Still (now apparently almost impossible to find) and Licensed Dram editions. Both maintain the American and European oak components of the 12 year old, so I would certainly be willing to give Glenlivet another go.
I hope you enjoyed the conclusion of the Clash of the Glens and stay tuned as I start exploring cask influence next. See you then!
If you have enjoyed this content, please share a comment below and consider supporting the cost of this blog via the button below
Why taste Blind?
I got a lot of first-hand experience with blind tasting through my WSET wine training. Blid tasting can be fun, but there are some aspects I don’t care about. Being able to recognise a specific region/vintage/grape, for example, is useful if you are a professional. On the other hand, as an amateur, it is the last reason you should taste blind as it takes constant practice and tons of experience.
To an amateur like me (and maybe you, I don’t want to presume) blind tasting is a great way of removing bias. As much as each of us thinks we are honest and impartial whenever we sample a product, as soon as we see a specific brand or label, we have a subconscious expectation that affects the following sensory experience.
Tasting blind allows me to focus on the liquid in the glass. Removing as much bias as possible I can concentrate on the experience and compare and contrast what I am sampling.
Bias removal is not completely possible since I taste in a “single blind” way, but it helps. That means I know what the whiskies in the tasting are but not the order (thanks to my wife who lovingly assists me). I hope to run a few double-blind (knowing neither the whiskies nor the order) flights further on, but right now for me the focus is more on refining my ability to taste