Description

Glenfiddich 1974 Queen’s Coronation Sherry Cask

Glenfiddich 1974 Queen’s Coronation price

• Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 48.9%

A special limited edition Glenfiddich single cask bottled at full strength in 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation.

There’s already been an excellent official 1974 for La Maison du Whisky this year (90), here’s a 1972 for Switzerland that Jim McEwan liked a lot. Colour gold. Nose: very fragrant, almost extravagant – probably the most demonstrative ‘fiddich I ever had. Starts on huge notes of peonies and blackcurrant jelly as well as vanilla fudge, soon to get unusually meaty (ham). We have then lots of rather complex aromas such as date liqueur, bergamot, sandalwood (huge), lavender flavoured crème, oriental pastries (baklavas)… Lots of oak then (but it’s well rounded) and finally a minty and resinous blast – it almost smells like Vicks Vaporub after a while. And always this meatiness in the background, the whole getting wilder and wilder (well hung game). Lots happening in this one! Glenfiddich 1974 Queen’s Coronation Sherry Cask

Mouth: the attack is quite dry and makes me think of a very ‘fino’ sherry. Really nervous, oaky but not too much, with lots of green tea, green bananas, apple skin, various herbal teas, mint… Goes on with a little praline before it gets frankly spicy and peppery, with quite some cinnamon, nutmeg, even paprika… Not as beautiful as on the nose and certainly quite tannic. Finish: very spicy and oaky now, almost like over-infused tea, with more and more black pepper. Wild indeed! I liked the nose much better, it was stupendous, but this rather drying palate prevents it to make it to 90+ in my books. So, it’s going to be 89 points.