Glenfarclas 25 Year

Liquid fruit cake with depth and full body and good finish

Full bodied, rich and fruity. Delicious and dangerously easy drinking.

For my eldest son’s nuptials, back in September, I wanted to get something special to commemorate and share with friends and family. Something of this age is not very common for most, which only makes it extra special. That day was extra special. This scotch will always invoke those warm feelings and remembrances. So now, I find myself quietly free to really taste this and put on an analytical hat. Upon initial pour and nosing, a light, sweet and fruity aroma awakens the senses. A fruit bowl potpourri. As time progresses, the nose blossoms and encompasses. What emerges is warmed fruit cake and a big bowl of brown sugared raisins which all other aromas are influenced by. Cinnamon, vanilla, French toast, maple syrup, pecans, sticky dates and figs, apricots, confectionery sugar and honeysuckle. Sticky sweet and fruity. A slight bit of wood spice and leather which gives the overall nose a sense of vibrancy. As it really settles in, after a serious amount of time, the must of old library books really reinforces the age. A wonderfully busy and full aromatic nose. The scotch enters the palate like an aged person. Delicately, light and with a bit of vim. Dark chocolate with the slight bitterness that has been laced with orange zest coats the palate. Fruity raisins, Concord grapes and sugary plums which then segues into more earthy walnuts, almonds and oaken wood. A bit of vibrancy emerges as it works towards the finish. Cinnamon, cloves, white pepper, pickled ginger all cause the tongue to prickle. The finish extends for a fair length of time. Wood spice, milk chocolate, raisins (think Raisinets) , red grapes, orange zest, leather and almonds all lightly and slowly fade yet seem to linger. Glenfarclas: often overlooked and passed over for Macallan, Dalmore or Glendronach. This 25 is quite a pleasure, through and through. The full nose, the dynamic palate and the relatively lengthy finish all make for a quality dram. If you have a pour and can get two of the three stages with some breadth, you are pleasantly satisfied. This will not disappoint. How Glenfarclas can produce quality scotch, carefully crafted and at a price that is more than reasonable, I haven’t a clue. But for those who overlook this scotch, please continue to do so, selfishly leaving me with a large pool of inventory that can always be found. [$179][95/100][Tasted: 9/25/21; 12/17/21]

Sg

Dried fruits and sweet honey or honey suckle on the nose, spicy and oaky on the pallet, some warmth and BBQ-like notes on the finish. Complex and full-bodied. A treat of a whisky.

Nose: Honeysuckle, toffee, cacao nibs Nose after swirl: Crushed red grape, nice oak, beautiful sherry sweetness, dark chocolate Palate: Mid-thick mouthfeel, light, airy, berries, slight oakiness Finish: Light oak (surprising for a 25YO), dryness increases over time, weirdly... smoked brisket (like the char on burnt tips BBQ)