Slainte-Mhath
Glenfarclas 12 Year
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 26, 2020 (edited December 30, 2021)
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
30.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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I really appreciate the updates over the years @Slainte-Mhath. I didn't try this until last year and I found it to be interestingly funky, but also light and thin, so I suspect there has indeed been a decline in quality. A shame :(
@cascode Yes, batch variation certainly is a factor. Our palates evolve as we gain more experience, so this might also contribute to the fact that I am somewhat underwhelmed by this malt. I think this is unavoidable on our whisky journey, that those malts which impressed us in the past suddenly taste a bit bland.
@Slainte-Mhath Good review and great series of comments. I think it has slipped a little over the last few years, but there's always the Glenfarclas batch variability to factor in - next year it may be back to its old form again.
Re-reviewed in 10/2020: Has the quality deteriorated over the years? Yes, I think so. It tastes younger than the age statement suggests, and it's certainly NOT a sherry monster. However, I think this is due to the fact that Glenfarclas ages more slowly, using large (refill) sherry butts. I perceived it as a lighter and thinner spirit. 'Rough but tasty' sums it up quite well. Water does the trick and improves the palate significantly! Despite its flaws, I would still prefer it over Glenfiddich 12 or Glenlivet 12.
Re-reviewed in 12/2017: Not quite sure what happened here. Did I change? Did the whisky change? Maybe a bit of both? All I can say is that Glenfarclas 12yo does not fulfil my requirements for a 4-star whisky anymore. Don't get me wrong, it's still a decent dram and an entry level bottling I really like, but there is too much heat on the nose and palate to call it 'first-class'. I have to knock one point off, so it's down to 85 (solid 3.5 stars). Slàinte!
First reviewed in 12/2016: almost 4 stars (86 points). I had a 1L bottle at the time and really liked it. It was an excellent value.