Glenfiddich Fire & Cane

Nose: Sweet, rounded smoke, reminiscent of Caol Ila but without the maritime notes. Honey, toffee apple, and something citrus but not quite lemon - lemongrass maybe? Palate: Sweet smokey arrival, light peat on the palate with a trace of fruitiness (sultanas?), honey and vanilla. The texture is good. Finish: Medium. Smoke, salted caramel. The length is entirely due to the smoke. Otherwise it would be quite short. A very easy drinking smoky whisky with no sour or rubbery notes at all. The palate is a little one dimensional but perfectly acceptable. I did not notice anything much in the way of rum influence other than some honey and caramel notes, and it was refreshing to come across a subtle rum cask whisky. I’m not sure how big a role the smoke plays in modulating the rum. I admit I approached this with suspicion for some reason, being prepared to hate it, but I found myself liking it after all. Tasted on the Keith and Dufftown Railway “Dram Tram”, Sunday 5th May 2024. “Good” : 83/100 (3.5 stars)