Given that most of us cut our teeth on Glenfiddich when we first started drinking single malts, I don’t know many drinkers who consider Glenfiddich when they want something mature or upscale. They tend to go for Macallan or Glenmorangie or a rare single cask selection when the stakes go up. I know this because I am also one of these people. When it comes to luxury, Glenfiddich never really enters my mind.

But, having tasted through the entire line this last week with my friend David Laird, I can tell you with certainty that Glenfiddich’s value for the dollar is pretty tough to beat when it comes to the higher-end of the spectrum. Across the board the whiskies are delicious, but there were three that caught my immediate attention.

Let’s start with the Glenfiddich 21 Year at $174.95.

There are a handful of less expensive 21 year old single malt whiskies out there, but not many. What makes the Glenfiddich 21 special is that fact that it’s matured in rum casks. Not only that, but the rum that goes into the casks to season the barrels is specifically-designed by Glenfiddich for that very purpose! These aren’t random rum barrels that Glenfiddich is purchasing, mind you; Glenfiddich is crafting something very specific and has a very specific rum blend made to season the oak with a tailored flavor profile. You wanna talk about lush on the palate. This baby is like liquid silk with toffee, crème brûlée, banana, and rich vanilla. 

For years I’ve been recommending the Balvenie 14 year for whisky drinkers who want something more round and tropical-tasting, but moving forward I’ll be upselling folks to this one. It’s more than worth it.

Next, let’s talk about the ultimate bargain: the 18 Year at $86.95.

I generally consider the Glenmorangie 18 year to be the great $100 bottle of booze, but I’m going to amend that opinion today having revisited the Glenfiddich 18. This is everything I love about Sherry-matured whisky in that it isn’t all that sweet. Rather, the spice of the European oak comes out and it turns more into cocoa and hazelnuts rather than rich raisins and dark fudge. David and Mattias from Glenfiddich were telling me the Glenfiddich 18 is also great for a float on top of a Glenfiddich 12 Highball cocktail.

Guess what I’ll be drinking tonight?

Finally, let’s talk about the best new (for me) whisky I’ve had in the last six months: the 26 Year for $499.99.

Wow, wow, wow, wow…..and THEY’RE DISCONTINUING THIS???!!!

Yes, they’re discontinuing this edition of the Glenfiddich 26 year old because—get this—it’s too light in color. Apparently, it doesn’t look old enough in the bottle for those consumers that use color to determine age.

For those of you who remember the 1979 Glenfarclas cask I brought in all those years ago, this is the same thing but better. It’s aged entirely in refill American oak casks and it’s as light most 12 year old whiskies in color. But having spent 26 years in those used barrels, this is just perfection defined. It is PERFECT whisky. It’s like taking a bite out of a fresh baked eclair, the buttery, biscuity, sweet fruit notes just bursting all over your tastebuds and sending you into pure ecstasy.

I went back for thirds, fourths, and fifths on this baby, and I immediately put one of these in my bunker. This is the kind of whisky you just don’t find anymore, a throwback to a golden era when everyone let their whiskies sit in refill casks for decades and we all got to revel in that splendor. 

-David Driscoll