Glenfiddich 21yr Gran Reserva - Cuban Rum Finish

I once had a few tastes of this dram and fell in love with it. This was several years ago, and I've been looking to get a bottle ever since. Well, recently I had the chance through a fine BOTL to procure a bottle for myself. It most definitely is my favorite now that I've had a bit of time to really savor it.

AVB has a review of it here http://www.cigarpass.com/forumsipb/index.php?showtopic=8859
I'm no spirit reviewer, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I paired this dram with Casa Fuente Churchill which you can find the review of here:
http://www.cigarpass.com/forumsipb/index.php?showtopic=39420



The color of this dram is quite striking. It has the color of buckwheat flower honey, a dark honey. I could also equate it to my Granny's sweet sun tea, but that's a subjective thing that you guys couldn't understand. The color is very deep and gives a wonderful presence in the glass. The nose is of sugar on the stove when making caramel with chocolate and citrus notes. There are some light peated malt hints on the nose as well with a very subtle alcohol sting. The first taste of this dram brought the feelings of caramel and vanilla with a faint bittersweet chocolate on the top. It definitely starts off with a wonderful sweetness that tells of its rum cask finish.

The finish is long with a very smooth and subtle alcohol bite and hints of peppermint and spice. A few drops of water really mellowed out the finish, although shortening it. If it wasn't for the 38 year old dram that I sipped last night, I would proclaim it to be the most smooth dram I've ever tasted.

I truely enjoyed this dram, and will make this a staple in my spirit selection. I hope I was able to do the dram justice with my review.

Nice review. Always good to see more viewpoints and I'll looking for your next one.

Thanks for the review, Turk. I've had my eye on one back in Atlanta for about two months now. I'm gonna pull the trigger on it pretty soon...

Not the same thing. This one is finished in Cuban Rum casks while the one available in the US is finished in Dominican (I'm pretty sure) rum casks.

khari said:

Thanks for the review, Turk. I've had my eye on one back in Atlanta for about two months now. I'm gonna pull the trigger on it pretty soon...

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AVB said:

Not the same thing. This one is finished in Cuban Rum casks while the one available in the US is finished in Dominican (I'm pretty sure) rum casks.

khari said:

Thanks for the review, Turk. I've had my eye on one back in Atlanta for about two months now. I'm gonna pull the trigger on it pretty soon...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure they call it "Caribbean Reserve" here in the states but as AVB said, it's different from the Gran Reserva that Turk is talking about here.

I fell in love with my first bottle of Gran Reserva and while it's still one of my favorites, I'm on a Islay :love: kick now.

coventrycat86 said:

AVB said:

Not the same thing. This one is finished in Cuban Rum casks while the one available in the US is finished in Dominican (I'm pretty sure) rum casks.

khari said:

Thanks for the review, Turk. I've had my eye on one back in Atlanta for about two months now. I'm gonna pull the trigger on it pretty soon...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure they call it "Caribbean Reserve" here in the states but as AVB said, it's different from the Gran Reserva that Turk is talking about here.

I fell in love with my first bottle of Gran Reserva and while it's still one of my favorites, I'm on a Islay :love: kick now.

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Somehow I overlooked the original post that stated "Cuban Rum Finish". Based on the things I've seen though, the US version is also called Gran Reserva. I'd love to get the Cuban Rum finish some time but I just placed an overseas order. Perhaps next time!

Nice review Turk10mm.


I'm pretty sure they call the American version "Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva, Caribbean Rum Finish". I remember seeing a bottle of the American version right after I got a bottle of the Cuban Rum Finish from Ray during one of his "scotch buys".

sigar_zealot said:

Nice review Turk10mm.


I'm pretty sure they call the American version "Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva, Caribbean Rum Finish". I remember seeing a bottle of the American version right after I got a bottle of the Cuban Rum Finish from Ray during one of his "scotch buys".

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I think you're right but it's listed as "Caribbean Reserve" in the liquor store's catalogs, at least in the one's I've seen around here.

It would be interesting to see if one can tell the difference in taste between the two though. I doubt I'd be able to.

I have wondered how the US could have any control over what barrels were actually used to finish whiskey. As long as Glenfiddich says carribean rum casks, how can anyone say differently.

That's all I'm gonna say about that, because I'll be purchasing a bottle from my local fine spirits vendor and tasting for myself.

I know all the bottles that I recently got in a group buy went over very well with the men in my girlfriend's family. I brought over fine cigars and fine hooch. Who can't love the daughters boyfriend after that.

The brothers, brother in laws, father, and grandfather of my significant other were all ooohing and ahhhing. The Gran Reserva won favorite dram from the bottles I got. The chieftains robusto scored the lowest. cause DAMN it tastes like tar.

Turk10mm said:

...The chieftains robusto scored the lowest. cause DAMN it tastes like tar.

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Is the robusto really that strong? I'm chuckling as I type this. I just received my Chieftains Classic but I haven't yet opened it.