Today I look at a comparison of 15 year old whiskies; two classic brands. These two brands go head to head all over the world. The Macallan 15 vs Glenfiddich 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky.
Both these single malt whiskies have iconic status worldwide. They are two of the most recognizable names in whisky. But what happens when you put them in a side by side comparison.
One from Speyside and one from the Scottish Highlands. Both spent time ageing in bourbon whiskey and sherry casks. Let’s start in Speyside.
The Glenfiddich is one of my favourite distilleries, and this release has a special place in my heart. I love the sweet fruity releases that consistently come from this Speyside distillery. Family-owned after all this time, everyone knows the classic triangular-shaped bottle of Glenfiddich.
The Glenfiddich 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky is matured in American bourbon, Portuguese sherry and virgin oak casks. The whisky is then mellowed in a handcrafted Oregon pine solera vat (that is always kept half full) before being married in Portuguese oak tuns.
The Macallan Distillery started life as Elchies Distillery. The name changed, and it expanded as the demand for the product soared. Over time, the Macallan had become a premium brand and have some of the most expensive drams in the world. The Macallan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group.
The Macallan Fine Oak 15 year old is a single malt Scotch aged in a combination of bourbon oak casks as well as sherry casks.
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| Macallan 15 yo whisky | Glenfiddich 15 yo whisky | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Highland Whisky | Speyside Whisky |
| ABV | 43% | 43% |
| Colour | Golden straw | Golden red |
| Nose | Oak and orange blossom sweetness. It is rich and rewarding and invites you to dive in. There are faint hints of orange peel and honey. | Complex and rich with sweet sultanas, honey, stewed apple crumble with cream and caramel. Bit of oak and vanilla combining with hints of sherry and fudge. |
| Palate | Florals, barley, vanilla sweetness mixed with some pepper spice and nutmeg. Adding water smooths out the spiciness, but takes away some of the sweetness. Faint hints of orange blossom and fruit float about. I was expecting a lot more bourbon notes on the palate, but the bourbon notes are a very faint part of the vanilla sweetness. | There are notes of honey, oak, cinnamon and nutmeg spice, brandy-soaked fruitcake, hints of nuts perfectly balanced with more fruit and vanilla. Water just smooths out this already delicious dram. |
| Finish | Medium length and end in notes of oak, orange and spice. | Long and lingering with hints of malt, honey and cinnamon |
| My Rating | Excellent | Excellent |
| Comments | Great all round, well-balanced smooth whisky. | Rich, delicious, complex and easy drinking. |
| Price | $170 | $80 |
| Pairs well with | Wensleydale cheese or soft buttery blue cheese. | Duck, Grilled sirloin steak. |
This side by side whisky comparison divided John and me. He loves the Macallan 15 year old, and I love the Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky.
The Macallan 15 year old bring notes of oak, florals, vanilla and orange blossom mixed with pepper and nutmeg. On the other side, the Glenfiddich 15 year old is brandy soaked fruit cake, nuts, oak and cinnamon.
The Macallan is bolder and more spice forward than the Glenfiddich. The Glenfiddich has a more elegant complexity with a nicer finish.
I love the creamy and soft fruity sweetness of the Glenfiddich, and it will probably be one of my all-time favourite drams. John loves the bolder, spicier notes balanced with the sweetness of the Macallan.
Looking at online ratings, it seems like more people prefer the Macallan compared to the Glenfiddich. The Glenfiddich 15 year old will always have a special place in my heart regardless. But for now, we are just going to sit back and enjoy these two excellent whiskies.
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