Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask Whisky

Many years ago, I worked for the South African Breweries. Based in Johannesburg at the Sandton head office, I had regular visits to the various distilleries. Each distillery has an individual culture, but the one constant was the smell. The delicious, malty, hoppy aroma of beer being brewed.

It is a lovely smell; a warm, comforting cup of Horlicks smell. One of my favourite breweries to visit was Prospecton, on the Durban South coast. When you arrived, the malty aroma mixed with warm sea air. It was just incredible.

It has been many years since I was in Prospecton, but last year, nostalgia overcame me when Glenfiddich launched the Glenfiddich IPA Cask. I was fortunate to be one of the first people in SA who tasted the new Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask single malt Scotch whisky.

When I nosed it, I was reminded of walking around Prospecton brewery, the sea air, and the malted barley. It was just perfect. I had to add this Experimental release to my whisky collection.

During 2016 Glenfiddich released the first two expressions in their Experimental series. Glenfiddich IPA Cask and Project XX. During 2017 a third expression was released, the Glenfiddich Winter Storm. A 21 yo whisky finished in rare Canadian ice wine barrels.

I have tasted many Glenfiddich releases; it is a distillery that I love. But today is about the IPA Casks bottling. A single malt whisky finished for three months in casks seasoned with India Pale Ale. India Pale Ale is an ale that had been brewed from pale malt.

Also Read: The Glenlivet Alpha Whisky

Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask Whisky Review

The Glenfiddich IPA Cask whisky is a NAS released. It is not the first whisky finished in a beer cask. During 2017 I tasted the Jamesons Caskmates also finished in Stout beer casks.  But will this release stand out?

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Rich gold

NOSE: First on the nose is the hops, the smell that takes me back to my days visiting breweries. Toasted oak, fruity sweetness, freshly cut pine needles and faint floral hints with bits of spices.

PALATE: The palette is exciting. It has a unique freshness and crispness to it. Medium-bodied with  creamy sweet summer fruit, hints of lemon pepper balanced with  dried oak and toffee sweetness. It’s not the most complex whisky, but it works well. I almost get a whiff of malted porridge as well. This dram is so easy to drink without water. The addition of water adds smoothness but masks some of the subtle notes. I would not rush to add water to this.

FINISH: The finish builds beautifully and richly, ending on crisp notes of oak and pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The IPA Cask Experiment is an easy-drinking whisky. It is refreshing, fun and unpretentious. A very successful experiment. It pairs wonderfully with steak and probably most foods that you would pair with a beer. It is a bottle I can quickly finish and I don’t think it will see the end of this year.

Have you tried the Glenfiddich Experimental Series IPA Cask whisky, and what was your thoughts?

I asked Instagram to vote between the Glenfiddich Project XX vs Glenfiddich IPA Cask. This was the results…

Also Read: Glenmorangie Lasanta whisky