Ctrexman
Glenfarclas 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
April 14, 2020 (edited April 2, 2021)
I really like sherried scotch, I mean yeah its fantastic. Have been interested in this GF for some time. I do appreciate the family business model along with the direct fire heating, last of dying breed. Poured neat, nose is standard candied sugared fruits like figs , orange and berries. Which is to say its right in my wheelhouse. Honey malt and toasted oak join in as well. Some say there is smoke.... yeah ill buy that only its smelling the fire the day after its out. Mouthfeel is thinner than I expected from the stills they use but its not a problem. Palate comes in with malty barley sugars, more dark fruit along with not quite smoky singed wood notes. I was hoping for some coffee light peat notes which almost develop but fade off with just a hint. Flavors are not deep but nor is it thin either. I feel more time in the barrel would do wonders as it tastes a bit young. Finish is medium with traditional fading malt and barrel notes supported by distant jammy fruits. I like this but it cant measure up to sherry monsters such as Glendronach or for me Mac 12. Im a fan but as others have mentioned the older stock may be the way to go. Totally enjoyable despite any drawbacks though so......85/100.....I will most likely swim upstream with this distiller leaving this price point to others. I paid $45 but saw this in NH for $36 all the time, at that price point its an easy repurchase.
45.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@cascode Ah I was thinking it must be the casking that changed. That makes sense thanks!
@Soba45 I'm a big fan of Glenfarclas and personally I've never had a problem with the texture of their expressions. However, Glenfarclas is operationally old-fashioned and their cask management is similarly old-school because that's the way John Grant likes to do things. This was fine pre-1980s when they could rely on a constant stream of good quality oloroso casks, but nowdays for the core OBs they use "seasoned" casks and it leads to greater batch variation and a thinner profile. If they were more experimental and included some subtle use of PX and first-fill bourbon it might expand the character of the whisky, but John Grant will have none of that nonsense. Maybe when George takes over there might be changes, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Yeah i'm with you too thin. I was lucky enough to try a 1980's 15 yr bottling and man night and day much richer, thicker depth. No idea why they went thin and cheap as they are family owned so not like someone bought them out and shook things up or anything..wonder if slow change over time or a sudden cut over in style?
I had the 15y once and honestly had a similar impression as you did here. I get a larger sample bottle next week of the 18y and hope for it to fill the missing factor or full-bodiness.
Ok finished off the Farclas bottle....its pretty good just wish it wasnt so damn thin. Hope the older juice carries more weight