ralfy review 796 - Glenfiddich 15yo @ 40%vol:

If you like my content you can buy me a 'wee dram' at / ralfy , thanks !
For more whisky info & stuff, SUBSCRIBE to 'ralfydotcom'
Subscribe to my other KZbin Channel 'Fitter Philosophy'
This video represents a personal opinion and perspective only.
To comply with Google Adsense policy this video is an independent non-profit review and is not selling or linking to a site that sells the product being reviewed.

[@daveparadice]

GF 15 is the dram that got me into malt whisky. Such a classic and always delivers!!

[@dizi17]

Someone tag Glenfid for that 7 year old 46% non chill version!

[@brushgently]

Ralfy, the way you talk about whisky is absolute poetry and hard truth. You've educated me (particularly when it comes to chill filtering). Keep up the good work and as a 41 year old man from Northern Ireland, I can only recommend more reviews of Islay whisky. The peatier the better. Speyside...a waste of time. Much love from Ireland...

[@elshootermcgavin]

I do like the "obscure" reviews but taking on the accessible/affordable bottles is very much appreciated. Discovered your channel a few weeks ago and have shown my friends. Big fan already. Cheers from Australia

[@JBurtonTenor]

I’m a lover of the heavy fisted monster single malts, and bought this to hopefully win over my wife from bourbon. I was SO so happily shocked and pleased with this. It takes a lot of swirling and opening and likes a little water, but came together as a lovely sweet pleasant little dram! She was happy, and that made me happy too. The first dram she’s ever finished. Cheers! PS...listened as wrote. I agree 1000%!! Water and time made it it’s best. It was slightly harsh at first.

[@TheWhiskyExplorer]

Keeping the receipts in the tubes; brilliant. Thanks Ralfy!

[@petrvacek4043]

I LOVE these reviews, very knowledgeable and entertaining

[@MaasMan22]

This was my gateway scotch. In fact, I know a couple of others who were converted to scotch on this bottle. I have to believe that the 3% extra in the US has to make a difference. I've branched out to a bunch of higher end scotches, but this dram is still one of the best I've had. Even though it ranks higher than an 84 for me, it was still exciting for me to hear Ralphy review it! Thank you for doing some more accessible reviews! (PS . I find this to be the most green apple nosing scotch I've ever tried. I was shocked that I didn't hear that flavor mentioned!)

[@wolfartwork]

Got a whole bottle of the old version, love it...have to taste the new one. Many thanks Ralfy.. greetings from germany

[@kithid]

Hi Ralfy. I recently joined your channel. Live in Birmingham and have good access to supermarket whiskeys and speciality shops alike. So I'm happy to learn from you to make better and informed choices when purchasing good Whiskeys and how to drink them. Keep it up! Love the reviews. :)

[@jamesflood7985]

Just found your channel and I like how genuine your passion for whiskey is!

[@evanhayes5891]

Hahahaha, yes Ralfy! That's my MM. Meningococcal vaccine is what I was referencing. Took me about 5 times to hear what you were saying, but I loved it!

[@skippyvanpob2762]

I picked up a bottle of Glenlivet 15 for $54 Canadian, about 33 pounds. They put it on sale every few months, an excellent deal. Thanks Ralfy!

[@argo60]

This is a single malt I would share with guests who I really like, and who are starting their whisky journey. The 12yo is good too, but the 15yo for me has been my love when compared to the 12yo and 18yo Glenfiddichs. I feel it is the better of the three regular entry expressions for the brand.

[@neilmclean4439]

I grabbed my bottle of 15 Glenfiddich and joined you in the short journey/experience of smell and taste. I enjoyed the experience. Everything you said was bang on. Slange 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

That was the first premium Whiskey I've found years ago... still love it... In this price range I can highly recommend the Glen Elgin 12 yo... a little cheaper but very well balanced, wonderful complex for his age, and getting better with every sipp... bottled at 43%

[@Pete_YT]

I find Glenfiddich to be very consistent. A wee dram to prepare the pallet before moving onto something more complex

[@markevans7244]

Agreed. It's a great starter malt.

[@DrakkarCalethiel]

You really never can go wrong with Glenfiddich, no matter 12 or 15. Really good malt!

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

I would go for the Glen Elgin 12 yo in this price range... a wonderfull dram and slightly cheaper, bottled at 43%...

[@chriswitham8736]

Agree.

[@TomNyon]

Great review as always. But the Glenfiddich 15 here in Finland costs 70€ and the 18yo 92€. Horrible prices here.

[@brentross9233]

Congrats on 10 years. I just had a dram of 15yr Solera. I had let it sit for about 6 months. I really like the nose, but the taste leaves me wanting much more. I've been eyeballing the 19yr Age of Discovery, but can't bring myself to spend $150 on a 40% ABV.

[@James-oo1yq]

"Yah Bamsticks" 😂👍🏻

[@gordonpage1]

BUNCHAFANNEEZE!

[@daveparadice]

Good review Ralfy, we often offer cask strength 15 year at the distillery gift shop where you actually fill your own bottle from cask.

[@ahpadt]

You should make CS versions of the 12 and 15 for the core range. You could engage malt mates more with the brand :)

[@daveparadice]

@@ahpadt I know. I’ve brought this up on many occasions to have more CS offerings. I don’t do the numbers though and I’m told it just doesn’t work. We have Glenfiddich Project XX which is 47%

[@soulsbornegameplays5991]

@@daveparadice Proyect XX is your best affordable malt,Glenfiddich tastes good but lacks of long finish,46% or more % could fix that,cheers.

[@daveparadice]

@@soulsbornegameplays5991 Have you tried Glenfiddich 18? Def a nice long finish 😁👍

[@JimAlaska49]

Really enjoy your reviews!

[@bambinkoavgustin4608]

Ralfy, you are the best!

[@garrycowan4394]

First you tube video I've seen with anyone using the term bamstick bravo sir 😂👌

[@mic982]

My single malt whisky shopping list is growing

[@marcwhiskey]

I like the 12yr Glenfiddich it was my first single malt. It's great. A friend has the Solera Cask that I am looking forward to. This sounds really nice too

[@silverbackmadness9630]

12yrs is a everyday whisky ..

[@alyr9640]

You’ve piqued my interest Dear Sir! Happy Malty Monday to you and see you tomorrow for the extras!

[@Big1Doc]

Ralfy you are the best. period!

[@RedMcc]

I picked up this bottle for pretty inexpensive price. I picked up because like you said it was a good price for a 15 year. Appreciate this bottle more after this review.

[@matthewmurnin2311]

Was your last review of 15yo years ago much more glowing. I loved it back then at 27 from Tesco. Picked up the latest at 30 and it’s just not quite the same.

[@gmofftarki]

You'll be glad to know that the current US bottling of this is 40%, so you're no longer getting cheated. I agree with other commenters that the sherry was a bit excessively strong, and for some reason I was getting odd chalky flavors from it, which I think must be an artifact of the water they're using to dilute it down. I'd love to see what it tasted like at 46% with only 2/3 the water (assuming it comes out of the barrel at 55% or so), because there are some nice flavors there, just covered up by various other things.

[@samkitto010]

Cheers Ralfy from Downunder. Currently Siping on a Nant Port Cask. Tasmania has a few good distilleries now, time for you to do a 'Regional Review'

[@ic3105]

84??? You were in a VERY GENEROUS mode!

[@johnzajac9849]

In late November 2023, in Virginia, a bottle costs $90 at the state-run store. One online seller charges a total of $87.00, including the cost of a bottle, $67; shipping $17; and insurance $3.

[@MM-it9dg]

Great review Ralfy as always, after watching this I went to a Morris ons and picked this up for £34 and also JW Green label 15y for £30 2 15y for £64. Great stuff 🥃

[@JETJOOBOY]

Have you tried jonny Walker Double Black? I've seen that sub £30 a couple of times..it is rare in that it lists the majority of its components on the bottle ..not sure if it has an age statement though

[@MM-it9dg]

@@JETJOOBOY Yes, I've had a bottle, really nice. I've got a few big hitters in the Laphroaig, Lagavulin etc but I really enjoyed it. One JW i wasn't mad about was the gold. Just felt quite bland. I need to get another bottle to taste again.

[@shmulikanglister]

Agreed. 100%. Glenfiddich is for the consumer and not customer. In the circles that I am, people buy only Glenmorangie, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. All of them are tasteless. And it doesn't matter if it's 8 years or 80 years.

[@Phanttis]

90EUR here in Finland. Bought one from London yesterday for 46GBP from Tesco Express minimarket. =)

[@firstfill5072]

Call me what you will...but I don’t buy whiskies with E150 to do my bit to stop it being added, even if the price is good. You can get good malts without E150 at a good price if you shop around. ( only an opinion).

[@chrislawson5754]

Ralphy When is this weeks extras available ? I’m very intrigued. Great work btw 👍

[@MrSam4850]

If you think £41 for Glenfiddich 15 is good, I got mine for £30/1L in Sainsbury’s! Not even on special offer!

[@petersambol]

Sharing is caring Ralfy :-)

[@jeffswhiskeylounge509]

Ralfy, I'm tasting this for the first time tonight, and watching this video simultaneously. In the video, you mention that us Americans are spoiled with our bigger bottles and higher ABV. While it is true that we get 50ml more per bottle, the higher abv in this particular case does not hold true. I am sampling the 15yr from a 200ml bottle which came in a Glenfiddich 3-pack, which includes the 12yr and 18yr. The 12 and 15 are both bottled at 40%, the 18 is where we get lucky; it's bottled at 43%. The 15 is a bit spicier than the 12, that's the only difference I could pick up. I'm not sure it's worth the extra coin for 3 more years in the casks. Now....onto the 18yr!

[@yrudy]

the 15 scored lower than the 12 ?! we definitely need a comparison video

[@miserablerhurensohn]

Every so often around here, big 1.75 Liter bottles of various malts go on sale and are a damn good value compared to the same in a 750 ml bottle. My latest new blend which is still a single malt is two parts Glenfiddich 12 from the 1.75 bottle and one part Glenfiddich 18. Tastes great and makes my 18 go much further.

[@deanlahaye6559]

As you know Iv just started my malt journey so il try this thanks ralfy

[@thecakecadet8450]

I'm also relatively new to the malt world have you had any bad experiences yet. I've had one.... talisker 10 🤢 bloody awful lol.

[@deanlahaye6559]

My dan gave me a bottle of paddy in cork years ago that’s why iv stayed away from malt lol,like you I’m new to this,some one got me a bottle of that proper 12 I can drink it neat I think it’s lovely,this 15 year old will be with me this afternoon lol

[@fraserthistle4200]

JOSEPH Mysko , maybe in a few years try the talisker again. It’s quite a distinctive taste for someone starting out on their malt journey, but maybe in a few years you will enjoy this one. I had a similar experience.

[@martywong822]

Hi Ralfy. Thank you for the insight on commercial brand bottlings. I totally agree that Glenfiddich should put out more non-chill filtered version. The 15 years old Distiller's Edition (non-chill filtered at 51%) was a disappointment by the way, as the finish fall off the cliff at terminal velocity. I can understand the argument that when it is cheap and it has an age statement on it, we cannot ask for more. On the other hand, if it is lacking complexity, do you think the age statement still imply anything? Like you said, it is all about the intrinsic quality when it comes to the whisky we choose to drink. Choosing between complexity and flavor or an integrity of age statement, I think it is not that simple.

[@firstfill5072]

I like that😉....” engineered to be safe”.. how true.

[@William971]

u mean taste good? this guys coming off as snobbish ive tried 10 single malts and its really flavour notes if u like the stuff or note, i dont like liquorish so the benromach 10 would be killer otherwise....i dont like apricot notes or id be in love with the glenmorangie 10...I like ginger lots so im drawn to the glenfiddich 15...

[@gregszczepkowski2550]

I love it. Personally I think this is the best whiskey for the money in 15yo sherried group, pity here in Ireland it is impossibly expensive. Keep up the good work R

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

and will be unfortunately even worse with Brexit...

[@gregszczepkowski2550]

@@Arturo-sm1tb Sad but true, maltmate.

[@Alex-ur8kd]

Bought them this week at Waitrose, on offer for £36, which is very good price!

[@Noble_Oak]

Glenfiddich - a never ending love ! 😍

[@d1bber]

£35 on amazon at the moment! think ill have to buy this one :)

[@bblair2627]

going back to more accessible whisky is a top idea imo

[@justininfrance]

You really ought to try the supermarkets in France. I live in the middle of nowhere in the Pyrenees but my local LeClerc has bottles of Glenrothes, amongst many others, for 60 euros (about £50) . Also Japanese, Welsh and French whiskies. You can imagine their range of rum, brandy and Armanacs!

[@JETJOOBOY]

7 year old Glenfiddich? sounds like someone got their hands on such a thing??? Sounds quite specific?

[@kareliask]

He's alluded to Glenfiddich being very good even at 5 years before, maybe it was a good vintage-for-price decision. I'd also love it at 5, 7, 8, whatever they might choose to make available.

[@coalstar]

I have a 7yo Glenfiddich IB from signatory at 46% and it's a stunner. :)

[@ticketyboo685]

Nice review Ralfy

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . thanks !

[@ticketyboo685]

Ralfy what do you think about the US adding traiffs to Scotch whisky ? Seems to have rattled the SWA.

[@ralfydotcom]

@@ticketyboo685 . . . it's a gambit to help leaver the UK out of the European Union in order the get the 'tarriffs' lifted. It might not work the way they expect it to. Economic supression creates depressions.

[@sav7568]

It's still 40 pounds at Sainsburys in August 2020. Great value.

[@whsm5576]

You’ve cooled your jets on this one, Ralfy. Last review you gave it an 88 malt mark and raved about the solera process!

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . yes, your right, I am cooling my jets on this one.

[@greigmartin4339]

even though fiddich is 40-43%%, chilfiltered and colored its definitely more than worth what you pay for it in comparison to its stablemate balvenie. this one has a nice sherry influence without being a bomb. the 12 is a classic and the 18 does "oaky" very well without being too dry (and you can get it for under 70 pounds in uk supermarkets).

[@TheGhs1]

Bought the 8 year old Queen Margot as the 3 seems to have gone up to £14 and the 8 was 99p more . Not a bad drop at the price 🥃

[@NZAnimeManga]

If you're in Scotland, minimum alcohol pricing is to thank for that... feelsbadman

[@Arminius3170]

FYI: The Queen Margot 3 year old is about 7,99 € here in Germany. They have a 5 year old Blend Malt (!) for 9,99 € called Glen Orchy . Had that, good value for the Money (cheaper than Teacher's Highland cream)

[@axellinder7054]

Just bought a 0.7l bottle of 15yo Glenfiddich Solera for 35.99 EUR in the beverages shop nearest to my home. After all, it is not (yet) all bad back here in good old Germany.

[@marcusroy8185]

Please review Glenmorangie Signet. It's a NAS but one of the good ones in my opinion. Would love to get your take on it.

[@djbeacon6895]

Bought a bottle for my wife since she liked a sample better than the Macallan 12 sherry. Unfortunately she also had a sample of the Macallan 18 but that is a bit too expensive. Cheers!!

[@whiskyapocalypse8144]

Possibly the best mass produced whisky is the world, I say this before I've watched the review.

[@marcelrombouts8607]

Hello Ralphy. Do you think it makes a difference that they don't empty the barrel entirely? Or is that just a gimmick? I'm asking this, because a 15 year old single malt from a 25 year old infinity barrel sounds gimmicky a.f. But yes it's lovely with a peated companion modestly added to the mix. Adding some Balblair 15 doesn't hurt either; really amplifies the fruity notes.

[@SaltyCuban]

My 2nd single malt. Reliable and light.

[@thecakecadet8450]

May I ask what your 1st was??

[@coalstar]

FWIW, The 15 is also 40% here in the US. :(

[@tobelieve627]

Yup.. disappointing.

[@alistairmcpherson8444]

bought for £35 in Waitrose this week. Clean taste

[@bourbonryescotch1]

Ralfy, any plans to review a Wardhead indie bottling and compare it to Glenfiddich?

[@RobertHorovitzND]

Add a drop or two of glendronach 18/21to this, drop of water, and leave it for 20 min. REALLY great.

[@JETJOOBOY]

I just treated myself to the Margot 3 year old today.... BETTER BE GOOD!! Lot of money I just spent

[@xNoCxNecroBoy]

haha enjoy

[@NZAnimeManga]

@Mauri Mela more in scotland (~£14)... feelsbadman.jpg

[@JETJOOBOY]

@Mauri Mela Relative innit?

[@dominiks7159]

Available in Sainsbury's for £30! (22/11/2019)

[@robfut9954]

Ralfy, can we get a high end bourbon reviewed soon? Always interested in your malternitives!

[@iancrombie8862]

Eagle Rare 10..not sure what review number?

[@robfut9954]

In the US we have a 14 year old bourbon barrel version. You ever try that one Ralfy? It’s not bad for the money (though probably no better than the 15, which I’ve never had).

[@andrewmainprice2179]

I was told that the distillery edition is 51abv and non chill filtered. I saw it on line for about £75

[@Dakkonblackblade1]

I have a strange relationship with this whiskey. I drunk it as my 1st or 2nd single malt in 2012. It was honeyed and mellow and sweet and i fell in love. My second bottle after a year , was just indifferent, with bad finish. I actually gave it back to the super market as spoiled due to sun and heat exposure. And i am in fear now to buy a 3rd bottle cause i dont want to spoil the 1st memory any further.

[@mnorth1351]

So it's hard to tell going just off memory, but I remember this as being better (in about 2018) than it is now. I wonder if they change the formulation a bit when they changed over the packaging design. Btw, in the USA this is sadly only 40% as well, at least where I am.

[@paulmcnicholas3846]

6 months into whiskey and I have a Highland park 12 a Glenfiddich 12 and this has just been bought for me as a Christmas present! I'm leaning towards the Glenfiddich 15 as I like its richness but I like the echo of smoke I get in the finish of the Highland Park 12! Time to try an Islay i think!

[@unknownpleasures100]

6 months in too. Can't go wrong with a laphroig 10 next up! I've just got this on offer at the co op at £32 - I'm sure that's going to be a steal

[@paulmcnicholas3846]

@@unknownpleasures100 since the post I bought and have just finished a bottle of Laphroaig 10 as you suggested and it is beautiful! First dram was like sipping TCP second third and so on were just amazing ! I'll try Ardbeg or Lagavulin next I think! I've really got a taste for Isla whiskey ! Don't think I'll collect though I just enjoy it 😋

[@unknownpleasures100]

@@paulmcnicholas3846 I went deeper down the peat hole with an ardbeg 10. A fine fine drop.

[@petejones8312]

I just picked up from Asda for £35. I love this whiskey but I would add I love friendly whiskey.

[@CreatureOTNight]

Only a scotsman would blame a nothern supermarket for ripping him off.

[@vincentricard821]

35 euros in France (25-30 during Christmas). As you say Ralfy : very accessible whisky. You get what you paid for... But no more. Better value for money than Glenffidich 18 or Glenffidich IPA...

[@manuelnaranjo3255]

Check out for Glenfiddich XX, 10€ more but a surprise

[@1DeathWalkingTerror1]

@@manuelnaranjo3255 the length of fruit with the xx was astonishing... great great buy the xx

[@OPHYCLIDE]

Just picked up a bottle of Glenfiddich 15 on offer in morrisons for £34!

[@mbak7801]

Now £35 on special from Tesco. A very nice. smooth drinkable whisky.

[@paullinnemann6103]

BamStick? Oye! Them's fight'n wards!

[@Solocat1]

I have to visit Scotland one day and try all the "Glen's". Given my name is Glen. :-)

[@Arminius3170]

Do the trip in company with a guy named Ben...then..

[@noahcap]

FYI- Glenfiddich 15yo is sold at 40% abv in the US. We do get the 750mL bottle though!

[@jarvy251]

"It's not 'old gold,' or 'tranquil amber' or 'nostalgic tawny'... it's BROWN" Hahaha too right Sadly I'll struggle to even find the 12 on shelves in Canada these days, and the price of the 14 and 15 has jumped to over $100 recently

[@ericgilbert8114]

I didn't even realized it was Glenfiddich because of the re branding. The marketing leaves a impression sitting under the tree during holidays when young.

[@robertforrester4019]

Ralphy would the malt mark be higher if you were tasting the 43 percent in the states ? Cheers from northern indiana usa

[@ralfydotcom]

yes.

[@marcelbergmeester1281]

Ralfy, thank you for your knowledge and your uplifting video’s. I would like to ask you which distilleries we could/have to visit on an upcoming journey in the coming year. We would like to go on a trip by train throughout Schotland next year. It would be good to have some nice, not big and overley commercial, places to visit with a nice consumers shop. I thank you for the time beeing. Greetings, Marcel

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . Speyside has the most within a close distance, check . visitscotland.com for suggestions. I suggest Springbank, Benromach, and Glengoyne.

[@marcelbergmeester1281]

Thank you very much for your quick reply!!

[@einheri]

I'd compare the Glenfiddich 15 with other whiskies in its price range rather than other 15-year-old whiskies. Compare it to other whiskies at the £40 mark, rather than 15s that are typically twice that price. It is what it is, and I'd say very good for the price point.

[@mrvinyl-mrchili9583]

The first single malt i ever bought was glenfiddich 15yo. Bought one last week in my lokal supermarket for 34,50£. A good price i think. Not the Best whisky. I would love it at 46abv

[@Goldtiger927]

Got this in Tesco's for £30, mental.

[@steviesummertimebreezy5766]

Hey Ralfy, kind of a random question, but has there ever been a distillery who was caught lying about an age of a scotch to sell it for more money

[@connordaren8916]

Steve Woz 16:26 cardhu got into some trouble a couple years back with the Spanish market (the largest consumer nation of said whisky) for something along those lines.

[@shuboy05]

Nope, the law states the age statement must be the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. I'm pretty certain there are penalties if the whisky is younger and it's discovered.

[@djscottdog1]

@@shuboy05 you didnt answers him , he asked if anyone had been caught breaking the law

[@djscottdog1]

@@connordaren8916 no, they got trying to give a bend of malts the name cardu to keep up with demand

[@shuboy05]

@@djscottdog1 Ah, my mistake. As far as I can tell (from a Google search mind you) this has NEVER happened with distilleries. HOWEVER whisky counterfeiting would involve putting younger whiskies inside older bottles to defraud people. And that is unfortunately common today.

[@dingleberries360]

This is actually only 40% in the US as of February 2023.

[@andljoy]

Your challenge sir if you chose to accept it , is to find something that a relatively reasonable price that can give you the feeling of a very old whiskey.

[@johnmarkle9125]

Most Scotch Whiskeys in the States are sold at 43% or higher. for some reason Glenfiddich is the one hold out at 40% Not sure how it stays competitive in this market

[@numberstation]

Big chunk of ice, leave it to rest for 10 minutes, a smashing, simple, easy drink.

[@richardkilley6838]

£35 in tescos on the island at the moment!

[@christianrivera9148]

Ralfy I'm wondering if you get the 14 year old Glenfiddich Bourbon barrel reserve in the UK? Hope for a review of that one day! Cheers!

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . not seen that around yet !

[@onggia850]

Something you said confused me Ralfy. What do you mean by "angry casts"?

[@ralfydotcom]

. . . 'angry casks' . casks in a single malt blend which add acidity and 'heat' to a batch !