Glenfiddich 14 Year Bourbon Barrel Reserve

Glenfiddich doesn't move me the way Ardbeg or Laphroaig do, but I came away from this drink with warm feelings. The stated purpose of this scotch was to merge some bourbon flavors with Glenfiddich, and it's exactly as advertised. It would be a strong gateway or transitional drink for a bourbon drinker trying to get into scotch, or vice versa. It has a much lighter and maltier character than any bourbon, but the top notes are honey, toffee, and vanilla, more so than any of the usual fruit notes from Glenfiddich. It may be an unfortunate consequence of having this after the intensity of a cask strength Booker's, but I didn't detect a lot of unique notes here. The additional two years of age does help smooth this out compared to Glenfiddich 12, and it's not much of a price bump at a reasonable $50 a bottle. If Glenfiddich 12 and 14 were the only two bottles on the shelf, I'd opt for this one for the extra $10-15.

Tasted very much like I'd imagined it would. Think glenfiddich with a fuller body and smoky, slightly sweet notes. Delicious

This scotch is true to its emphasis on the "bourbon" aspect of its nature. On the nose, there is Jolly Rancher apple candy, maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon and orange, while on the pallet there is the bourbon'ish note of vanilla, without the sweetness. The finish is likewise vanilla. This is one of my favorite scotches, which retails for around $42 (750ml).

Excellent dark chocolate and dark cherry notes. The fruitiness up front is bold, and the bourbon stays with you the whole time you taste. Wonderful, strong flavor.