Glenfarclas 15 Year

Nose: Dry strawbery marmelade. Chocholate covered marzipan. A light touch of peat (not smoke, there are little to no phenoles here; ”non-smoke peat” if you follow). There is also some sulphur comming through, but like funky gunpowder adding a layer to the whisky. Deeper sniffs reveal darker dried fruits, typical ”sherry” notes like raisins and dried plums, as well as a touch of caramel/toffee. Palate: More of the dry strawberry jam. Woody tannins (but not overpoweing).Christmas cake comes to mind. Also a touch of coffee crema (the foam which forms on an espresso). Also a touch of (the taste of) alcohol. The texture is not as ”thick” as some other sherried whiskys. Finish: Medium long finish (other sherried whiskies tend to have slightly longer finish). The strawberry jam continues, sweeter now. Coffee with a touch of chocholate (if you ever tried like chocholate infused Nespresso?). On the end of the finish the chocholate becomes more prominent - and darker. Overall: I like the notes in this whisky. It is an unpeated sherried whisky which comes through as a peated one - in the sense that it holds qualities that I usually just find in peated sherried whiskys (the peat imo somehow tends to subdue overly dark notes in sherried whiskys). Some aspects of this whisky are somewhat underwhelming, such as the slightly thin texture and shorter-than-other-sherried-whiskys finish. It’s still really good though, and I do enjoy it for its upside qualities, and I score it 4.0 which is the mark of a really good and tasty whisky on the doorstep of being great.

Sweet and smooth, nothing too strong in any direction.

Vanilla and mild spice. Solid dram but not blown away.

Strong raisins and toffee on the nose. Then a solid spice of gingerbread, cinnamon, and sweet heat with a smooth creamy mouthfeel from the high proof. A surprisingly smooth finish. On second sip, the whiskey’s character changes. It becomes sweeter and a bit more like bourbon.

Best neat, water makes it too smooth. Easy, smooth finish. Nose is fruit and sherry. A good intro to whisky or an easy “second” step.