The_Rev
Glenfarclas 15 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
January 5, 2017 (edited May 20, 2018)
All this time, and I've never actually written up notes on this, one of the treasures (by which I mean whiskies not commercially available in the US) I brought home from Scotland this past summer. The bottle was purchased at the distillery after our tour, and it was money well spent. The nose overflows with the sherry-influenced profile that's to be expected from Glenfarclas; in the 15, I get dark brown sugar, fig jam and vanilla cake (almost like a Fig Newton), almond brittle, and...waxy shoe polish. Medium bodied with a slight nip of alcoholic heat, the palate does have an ever so slight waxy quality to it. Flavors of candied plum, dried fig, almond, pastry crust, and vanilla come to the forefront; with a drop of water, there's a minty note at the very end. An ever-so-slightly bitter note rounds things out and keeps this from being a total dessert dram. A lovely, fairly priced (from what I remember) dram that I wouldn't mind see cross the pond!
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Scott: of course...if I chug it all alone, I'll simply get drunk and not remember it afterwards anyway!
@Pranay - When that special day comes along, I implore you to seek me out so I can celebrate with you. Also, of course, to try some special whisky (lol!).
I have a Master of Malt 60 yr old single malt, which some customer there told me, as I making the purchase, that it might actually be a Glenfarclas. Saving that bottle for a really special occasion. If none come along by the time I'm 60...oh well, will open it and chug it all.
I've yet to try the 12 year and 17 year old expressions, which are standard in the US, so I can't comment on them. If I had to choose a favorite, I'd likely settle on the 21 year old - it's old enough to be smooth and well-integrated, it's a bit less woody than the 25 year, and the little hint of something smoky off in the distance adds a welcome note of additional complexity. I'd be interested to try some of the super-aged bottlings they have out there, but those are out of my price range these days.
Nice review! From all Glenfarclas bottlings you have tried - what's your favorite, or the one you would recommend most?