Glenfarclas 12 Year

Simplistic packaging with a very classic vibe - almost looks hand-labeled - but the foil is pleasing and substantive, plus some “we did it ourselves” authenticity. Relatively pale yellow with a faint orange hue. Thin weight, but eventually develops some nice cascading legs. The nose is a bit harsh and doesn’t generate much appeal for me. Some jasmine tea and butter, but generally hot. Deadened grains. Unusual toasted notes are prominent. Sweetness and barley grain. Cream. Apricot and honeydew. Flower petals and a gentle red table grape flavor. A spiced zing. The Oloroso is immediately recognizable and carries the palate. Starts tentative with an evasive Irish-ish profile, but builds quickly and the finish lingers satisfyingly. Overall pleasant with a few standout characteristics. Musty and a bit different that the usual offerings which adds a touch of complexity and interest. A compelling option, but not worth its typical >$50 price tag IMO. Recommended when available at a discount.

Family-owned distillery, direct-fired stills and this unmistakable sherry-infused style - what's not to like about Glenfarclas? Light, sweet and fruity, the aroma kicks off with oranges, apricots and unripe banana, followed by shortbread, allspice and vegetal notes. The arrival is zesty, sparkling and reminiscent of Fanta. Water tames the initial roughness of the spirit, revealing dried fruits, pineapple and menthol. Dark chocolate, peppery spices and gummy bears fade in the medium finish. It's still a bargain for a 12-year-old, although not as robust as it used to be. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 83 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Smooth with a clean finish

Intro: This bottle is the next to be replaced in my scotch cabinet, so I figured I would review it before it goes. Nose: barley, burnt honey, touch of apple Palate: honey, caramel, melon, clove Finish: thin and fast with some honey crisp apple Overall: This is a pretty tasty whisky and my introduction to Glenfarclas. I really like the caramel and burnt honey notes in this dram which are usually attributed to the fact that Glenfarclas uses a direct fire to heat their stills as opposed to steam. Very good whisky who’s only real flaw is the bottling strength. All the flavors in this whisky were good, but slightly thin and faded. I would love to try this bottled at 46% or higher and see what a proper twelve year old Glenfarclas tastes like! 82/100

Very solid, getting some peaty Islay vibes, and some sweeter Speyside notes

Nose: light, fruity smoke, lemon, raisins, raspberry Palate: sherry, dry, raspberry, old wood, honey Finish: light tannic finish and not very dry _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 7: Glenfarclas 12yo versus Glengoyne 12yo Last year I tasted the 15yo expression and I was not bowled over. Indeed, even though I know this is a Glenfarclas signature I was somewhat put off by the “over-sherried” nature of it. Sacrilege! I may now become a target for factions of fervent sherry bombers and so will have to check under my car each morning for unexploded bottles of Aberlour A’Bunadh. But I recognise my own (current) preferences at this stage to know that I generally lean away from strong, sherried whiskies. Maybe due to its lower age this worked well enough for me. Enough to beat out the competition of a sherry-finished malt in Glengoyne 12. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 4: Glenfarclas 12yo versus Speyburn 10yo Got a nice whiff of old furniture and marmalade this time round in a battle with Speyburn 10. The taste is rich, sweet sherry with some interesting heat and salty sharpness and a yummy oak and sweet tea finish. The Speyburn is a fine, light scotch and in the last round it bested a sherried dram. Not this time. This struck a chord tonight, despite what I said above about sherried whiskies. I never said I wasn’t fickle and capricious. Stop judging me! _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Selecting a dram can be confusing – like Lloyd and Harry’s budgie I can barely keep my head together. So, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness