🥃 Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva
21-year-old single malt Scotch from Glenfiddich: bourbon casks and a finish in Caribbean rum casks; 40% ABV.
Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva is a 21-year-old single malt whisky from Speyside, 40% ABV. It differs in its finish: after a long maturation the whisky is briefly finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. The name “Gran Reserva” was introduced with new packaging in February 2012.
According to Difford's Guide, the 21-year-old whisky matures in bourbon casks, then the whiskies are married together and finished for up to four months in Caribbean rum casks. Whiskypedia notes that the brand's whisky goes through marrying in tuns, and that the share of sherry casks grows with age, which fits this general style.
Why this matters to you. The rum finish is a distinctive feature that the 12-year-old and the 15 Solera do not have, so do not put these expressions in one row just by age. The number 21 is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle, while “Gran Reserva” is only the name of the line. Check the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | malted barley |
| Cask type | bourbon casks for 21 years; finish of up to 4 months in Caribbean rum casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; this expression is 21 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 American white oak
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera, 🥃 Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Reserve, 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old, 🥃 Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera, 🥃 Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Reserve, 🥃 Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old, 🥃 Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old, 🥃 The Glenlivet
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all 21 years of Glenfiddich 21 are spent in rum casks?
No. According to Difford's Guide, the 21-year-old whisky matures in bourbon casks, and the Caribbean rum casks are used only for a finish of up to four months.
What is the strength of Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva?
40% ABV, according to Difford's Guide.
When did the name Gran Reserva appear?
According to Difford's Guide, with the release of new packaging in February 2012.
What to read next
- 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old — Flagship 12-year-old single malt Scotch from Glenfiddich in Dufftown; 40% ABV; the age statement returned to the label in 2000.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🐝 American white oak — A North American oak that gives wine strong vanilla and coconut notes.
Similar
🥃 Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old · 🥃 Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Reserve · 🥃 Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera · 🥃 Glenfiddich 12 Year Old · 🥃 Scapa Skiren · 🥃 Glen Moray 12 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva (40 %; 21 years in ex-bourbon casks, then blended and finished up to four months in ex-Caribbean rum casks; Gran Reserva packaging February 2012)
- Difford's Guide: Glenfiddich Distillery (Dufftown, first spirit Christmas Day 1887, William Grant & Sons, range overview)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Glenfiddich (marrying tuns and solera vats; ex-sherry casks in growing share with age; solera pioneered for the 15 year old)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)