Yesterday I stumbled upon the Fire & Cane Experimental Series #04 by Glenfiddich. Now having heard some of the chatter about this particular batch I could not pass up the opportunity to taste it for myself. It was modestly priced and the last one so I figured why not.
It surprised me! I was not expecting the depth and breadth of sensory exploration that this bottle took me on.
When we first opened it the cork smelled sweet with a tiny hint of smoke. It awakens your senses. Smelling the bottle after the cork creates a bit of confusion in the mind because the bottle triggers memories of campfires during camping trips and nights spent sitting next to a fire in the mountains. It's cries out for cooler weather and transports you away from the present. The tasting did not disappoint as it continued the journey with every inhale, every exhale, every taste.
The initial pour shows legs that are slow to move as they creep down the glass. In the bottle the liquid is richer, deeper like amber yet in the glass it is vibrant and bright with a golden hue.
The first nose in the glass evokes cooking marshmallows over a campfire with that luscious outer crust. The taste was cinnamon sprinkled over molasses pops with a hint of smoky gooeyness. It wraps you up and draws you into the glass. The warmth as it rolls over the tongue and into the back of the throat is one of comfort like a favorite blanket.
A second nosing of the glass came away with an aroma of oranges ripened in the sun. If you close your eyes and inhale it takes you away to a warm, sunny day standing in an orange grove yet the taste is that of an old fashioned with an orange peel on the rim. The smoke and orange cinnamon tricks you into thinking it's a spiced rum instead of a whisky.
My husband kept noting a bitterness in the after that I did not find. For him, the taste was sweet and spicily intense with a peaty finish that had a lingering bitter taste. Once he added a single drop of water it presented a forward of cologne like, then smoky, then sweeter - with hints of rum on the nose. The tasting was akin to a rum, where it was rummy upfront, peaty finish on the palate when you exhale.
We tested out the pairing with grilled chicken and vegetables which surprisingly revealed a new complexity as the whisky adapted, changing to match the food. Gone was the cinnamon and marshmallows to be replaced with oak, more intense smoke and just a hint of vanilla. It was a delight to see how many flavors came forward at different points.
The one thing we did learn is that with two drops of water everything changes. It is as if the whisky went away and all you are left with is water and smoke, not a good feel in the mouth or on the nose. It was almost too much smoke like when the wind blows the smoke from the campfire in your direction without warning. Those two drops of water broke the balance within the glass and created a negative disruption on the palate.
After taking this journey, I would recommend this particular bottle for the holiday table. Its warmth, color, and a hint of smoke is the perfect balance for sharing. It's a great companion to take along on those camping retreats or just on the porch in the cool of the evening.
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