Glenfiddich Solera 15 Years
Fifteen years in three types of casks, then brought together in a solera vat that never runs empty. Honey, marzipan and sherry, with spices from the wood: warmer and fuller than the 12 Years.
Three casks, one solera
What makes the Solera 15 different from the 12 Years is what happens after maturation. The whisky first matures in three types of casks: Spanish oak that held sherry, American oak that held bourbon and casks made from new American oak. Everything then comes together in the solera vat, a large wooden vat that is never drained beyond half-empty.
Because new whisky is continually added to the remaining half, every bottle contains a little of all previous batches. The idea comes from sherry making and produces a whisky that tastes remarkably consistent from year to year. The sherry provides warmth, the new oak spices and tannins; together, they make it rounder and fuller than the light, pear-like 12 Years, at the same 40%.
In brief
Honey, marzipan and sherry
Honey & marzipan
Warmer than the 12 Years: honey and marzipan, with a sweet sherry note and ripe fruit throughout.
Full and spicy
A rounder body, in which the fruit is complemented by spices from the new American oak.
Dry and woody
The wood's tannins give it a lightly drying, medium-length finish that invites a second sip.
Tasting profile of Glenfiddich Solera 15 Years neat. Compared with the 12 Years, it scores higher in spiciness and body.
How to get the most out of the Solera 15
This is a whisky to sip slowly. Neat, it best reveals the layers from the casks; with one drop of water, the fruit opens up further.
Neat, in three steps
Pour 3 cl into a tulip-shaped glass. Smell gently first, take a small sip and let it roll around briefly. Then add a few drops of water and taste again: the fruit becomes softer and the spices more pronounced.
Glass: tasting glass →Alongside a piece of chocolate
Pour 4 cl neat into a tumbler with a piece of dark chocolate on the side. The tannins from the wood and the bitterness of the cocoa come together, while the sherry fruit becomes sweeter.
Tumblers →In a Manhattan
Stir 50 ml Solera 15, 20 ml sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of bitters briefly over ice, then strain into a chilled coupe. The whisky's sherry notes pair beautifully with the vermouth.
Manhattan recipe →Stirred classics with Solera 15
A full-bodied, spicy malt works best in cocktails without citrus, where the whisky itself takes center stage.
Manhattan
Whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters. The sherry from the solera cask gives it depth.
Godfather
Whisky with amaretto over ice. Warm, sweet and perfect after dinner.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar and bitters over a large ice cube, with an orange peel.
Boulevardier
Whisky, sweet vermouth and Campari. The tannins balance the bitterness.The right glass for Glenfiddich Solera 15
A tulip-shaped tasting glass for nosing the layers from the casks, a heavy tumbler for the Godfather and the Old Fashioned, and a coupe for the Manhattan.
More Glenfiddich flavours
Glenfiddich
Where it all began. On the brand page, you can read everything about Glenfiddich: its origins, varieties and classic cocktails.
To Glenfiddich →
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Glenfiddich Project XX
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Questions about Glenfiddich Solera 15 Years
Can't find your question? Read more on the Glenfiddich page or explore our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Glenfiddich →