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17th September 2018 |
Introducing
Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Experimental
Series No 4, a smoky whisky which has
been finished in sweet rum casks, expect
a mix of campfire smoke and sweet
toffee.
 This
one slipped past me when it was
announced during the summer months but I
thought I would still bring it to your
attention in case you also missed its
announcement during the midst of the
summer holiday season and as it is
scheduled to be launched here in the UK
next month I thought this would be an
appropriate time to mention it.
It is the Glenfiddich Fire & Cane
Experimental Series No 4, a smoky whisky
which has been finished in sweet rum
casks and going by the quality of the
previous three releases in the
Experimental Series, the excellent
Glenfiddich IPA Experiment and
outstanding Glenfiddich Project XX
Experiment it has a lot to live up to. I
cant comment on the Glenfiddich Winter
Storm 21 year old Experiment as I never
got the chance to taste it but by most
accounts it was another interesting
dram.
Fire & Cane is inspired by the early
innovation of Glenfiddich Malt Master
Brian Kinsman, who in 2003, first ran
peated spirit through the Glenfiddich
stills, birthing the concept. Fire &
Cane boldly marries smoky whisky with
non-peated malts that had been maturing
side-by-side in bourbon casks,
highlighting Glenfiddich’s sweet and
fruity signature style. Taking it a step
further, Kinsman finished the whisky in
Latin rum casks to produce a surprising
and unexpected overlay of flavours with
added caramel toffee sweetness.
"This new single malt truly encapsulates
the spirit of experimentation. We
started with a question - what would
happen if we did something with peat
that we had not done before? The answer
is an unconventional and unexpected
whisky, one that is truly surprising,"
said Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian
Kinsman. "During the tastings, some
experienced the unusual smoky notes,
while others tasted toffee flavours –
this phenomenon can be attributed to the
Scotch spending three months in sweet
rum casks. It’s a bold combination,
which I’m sure will appeal and intrigue
single malt enthusiasts as well as those
looking to try something new and
different."
The Glenfiddich tell me that the fire of the newest expression in the
Experimental Series provides an
explosion of campfire smokiness with oak
and peaty notes, finished with lingering
woodiness. The cane provides
long-lasting sweetness by merging rich
sweet toffee with green fruit character,
baked apple, and toasted marshmallow
with soft spice. Rum casks also help
balance the dryness of the phenols and
drive sweetness. Furthermore, by
exclusively using naturally sweet
American oak – sourced from the Kelvin
Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky – Fire
& Cane is certified kosher.
Glenfiddich Experimental Series combines
the brand’s passion for pushing Scotch
whisky boundaries whilst unlocking new
possibilities in the true spirit of
experimentation.
Fire & Cane is presented in a coloured glass
bottle that seamlessly transitions from a
black/brown base to clear glass
displaying the whisky. The bottle was
designed to showcase the juxtaposing
flavours physically with the shift in
colour.
Knowing how good the deliciously rich
rum cask finished Glenfiddich 21 year
old is I am looking forward to trying
this smoky rum cask finished
Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, it is already
available in the US and it will launch
here
in the UK from October 2018, priced
around £43 and
you will find it available from specialist online whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange,
Master of Malt and
The Whisky Shop
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Glenfiddich Fire & Cane Experimental Series No 4 Review
|
Review added 21st December 2018.
Bottled at 43% ABV.
William
Morrison's Tasting Notes:
Nose:
A rich nose, candied apple and pear, a
little orange, a lovely Demerara sugar
sweetness infused with a gentle peat
smoke.
Taste:
Sweet toffee infused with some very
gentle peat smoke with a slight
liquorice edge coats the mouth, followed
closely by the candied apple from the
nose which is now accompanied by a
little touch of spice.
Finish:
Demerara sweet gentle smoke infused
sugars cling to the palate for an age.
Comment:
The smoke is gentle but hangs in there
from start to finish, it does become a
little bolder with each mouthful and
compliments the candied fruit and sweet
toffee well to make for, and most
importantly, a very enjoyable dram. The
43% bottling strength adds to the
pleasure but I would loved to have
tasted this at 46% plus, another quality
experiment from Glenfiddich and
certainly worth its asking price.
SMW Score
93/100
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