Glenfarclas

Whisky #546: Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom Edition 2

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Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom Edition 2 (2008 Single Cask 10 Year Old). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.8%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ (sample courtesy of Whisky & Wisdom).

Following on from Whisky & Wisdom’s first foray into bespoke bottling of a Glenfarclas in 2016, comes this second edition. Fellow Sydney-sider, self-described whisky tragic and the man behind one of my favourite whisky blogs (Whisky & Wisdom), Andrew Derbidge has hand selected this 10 year old single cask at the Glenfarclas distillery which yielded just 319 bottles at its natural cask strength of 59.8%. What a terrible way to spend an afternoon…sampling cask after cask of delicious whisky!

At the time, I rated the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask as one of my top 10 whiskies I’ve ever had, hands down. Nothing has changed that opinion, it was a mesmerising whisky. Can the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom Edition 2 live up to its elder sibling’s lofty standards? Let’s find out.

Colour: Deep honeycomb.

Nose: Juicy raisins, golden syrup, melting butter, and fresh leather. More time in the glass yields earthy almost musty notes with the rich undercurrent of dried sultanas.

Palate: A rich oily mouthfeel to start, with flavours and sensations like biting into orange and cherry chocolate liqueurs. Later sips seem to be like your tongue has wandered into a spice market – there’s a barrage of rich flavours competing for your attention. Orange toffee crisps, dried cranberries, cinnamon and dry cocoa powder.

Finish: Treacle, white pepper, cinnamon, cloves and a slightly prickly spice. A long gentle warmth with a drying mouthfeel and surprising slightly salty tang to finish.

Comments: It takes you on a journey this one, it simply demands your attention. It’s not your typical sherry bomb, there’s a lot more complexity and spice.

So how does it stack up to the first edition of Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom? They’re both quite different beasts, as you might expect for single cask whiskies despite sharing much of the same Glenfarclas DNA. Edition 1 was more akin to your typical Glenfarclas sherry bomb, whereas Edition 2 has an air of mystery and has a multi-layered personality. There’s just so many things to explore here – light and dark, sweetness and spice…your tastebuds are racing to keep up with the barrage of flavours popping around your mouth, as your mind gallops to keep up.

It’s not in my top 10 whiskies of all time like Edition 1, but geez it’s a tasty bit of juice and a very interesting expression of Glenfarclas. I’d be very interested to compare both editions of the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom side by side (perhaps Andrew should organise a tasting!) but in the meantime I’ll be grabbing a couple of bottles of this before they are gone forever.

Whisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherWhisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster.

Whisky and seafood, two of my great passions. I’ve enjoyed many whiskies, but I’ve not enjoyed reviewing too many more than today’s lineup.

Today’s seafood – fresh WA Rock Lobster and king crab legs from the Sydney Fish Market. The king crab legs are so tender, juicy and salty; while the rock lobster is firmer with very creamy flesh but a more subtle shellfish flavour.

Full-flavoured seafood deserves full-flavoured whisky. So let’s dive in to a couple of contrasting drams…a sherry influenced Glenfarclas and a creamy, tropical fruit malt from Arran.

Whisky #513: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Single Malt Bottled at 50% Exclusively for The Whisky Club. ABV: 50.0%. $130 (bottle).

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: An initial nose prickle when you first pour it in the glass. After it settles there’s dried raisins and strawberry marshmallows.

Palate: Almost a bit tannic, like some red wine finished whiskies. Golden syrup and burnt butter with caramel.

Finish: Dry, spicy and a slightly briny aftertaste.

Seafood combination: The Glenfarclas is better with the king crab, which softens the tannins and accentuates the sweetness of the whisky. Brings out some fresh raspberry notes too.

Whisky #514: Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Single Malt (Batch 2). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 55.2%. $135 (bottle).

Colour: Bright orange gold.

Nose: Like sticking a pine needle up your nose – it’s fresh and green, tickles a little and makes you pull away initially before heading back for more. Fresh lemon, kafir lime leaves, BBQ’d pineapple slices, and top-notch vanilla ice cream. None of that generic reduced fat, bleached white bulshit you buy from a cheap supermarket – this is the full cream, full-flavoured stuff where you can see the real vanilla beans swirled through the real deal cream coloured frosty goodness.

Palate: Loads of caramelised pineapple, honey, vanilla, and soft fresh oak.

Finish: Creamy, oh so creamy. Zesty lemon sherbet. Fresh prawns on freshly baked white bread you’ve picked up from the bakery that morning. Lemon cheesecake with a crumbled ginger nut cookie pastry. Sweet ginger spiciness.

Seafood combination: With the lobster, the lemon sherbet and fresh oak shine through. The king crab brings brown sugar, buttery croissants and juicy pineapple to the fore.

Overall comments: As a whisky, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask leaves the Glenfarclas in the shade. Combined with seafood though and they both allow some flavours to be accentuated and others to emerge. But overall, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask is an amazing dram that marries stunningly with fresh seafood like king crab or lobster. Outstanding stuff.

Whisky #509: Glenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherGlenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%.

£511.19s.0d. That’s how much John Grant – the first generation of what would become a whisky family dynasty – paid for the Glenfarclas distillery way back in June 1865.  I wish I could set up a distillery these days for a tick over £500!

Colour: Glowing amber sunset.

Nose: Rose petals, dried raisins, creamy vanilla sponge cake and fresh pastries.

Palate: A mouthful of mixed dried fruits. Creamed honey, candied strawberries and almond biscotti. A cool, oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Drying; sherry and sultana notes, medium length.

Comments: This Glenfarclas Family Reserve was released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the distillery. While this is far from my favourite Glenfarclas whisky (that honour goes to the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask), it’s a damn fine example of the Glenfarclas house style.

Sitting here thinking about the long history of Glenfarclas, it makes you ponder about what legacy you’ll leave long after you’ve sipped your last dram. Having recently had a health scare (thankfully unrelated to drinking whisky!), it really has led me to contemplate a lot about what I’ve achieved in life so far and what I’ve yet to accomplish. Things can be taken away from us in an instant – I have some burning passions and drivers in life, there’s much more to do. Raising a glass here now is just the beginning.

Whisky #465: Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherGlenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.5%. Tasted at home, $229 (bottle).

Now this is a special drop. Fellow Sydneysider, Andrew Derbidge – Director & Cellarmaster of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia, and also the man behind one of my favourite whisky blogs, “Whisky & Wisdom” – personally selected this cask for a special Whisky & Wisdom bottling. The man has some damn fine tastebuds, this one is a cracker!

Colour: Boiling caramel.

Nose: Dried cranberries, sultanas and a freshly opened block of dark chocolate. Leather-bound books and rich mahogany…must resist the urge to quote Ron Burgundy…

Palate: The intensity of the flavours is amazing; it’s rich without being overpowering. Strawberries and raspberries – rich and syrupy with a bit of tartness. Rich, creamy toffee with chocolate biscuits. The alcohol isn’t too much either, more a gentle wave of heat that builds along with the berry and some toasted oak notes.

Finish: A gentle warmth that slowly fades, drying woody notes too. Front of the tongue gets most of the joy.

Comments: This really is the kind of whisky you pour yourself when you get home after a tough day, slump into a comfy leather chair and put on some music to drown out the world. Don’t even think of talking to me, this whisky is taking me places. It’s so well balanced, smoother than it’s 60.7% ABV would suggest, and eminently drinkable. Bucketloads of flavour and subtle power, it really is one of those whiskies that has the ability to make the mind drift off and unwind. Which also made it a challenge to review, as I was enjoying it so much and just wanted to drift away with each sip.

I won’t hesitate to say this is one of my top 10 whiskies I’ve ever had, hands down.

Andrew selected this cask at the Glenfarclas Distillery. It must have been a tough job to taste all those contenders, but he eventually settled upon a 1st-fill European oak sherry butt that was distilled in 2007 and bottled as a 9 year old cask strength single malt in January 2016. If you want to hear more about how Andrew decided on this particular cask, check out the Whisky & Wisdom page.

Whisky #407: Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherimg_6710.jpgGlenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $70 (100mL bottle split from Copper & Oak in Perth).

Thought I’d review the Glenfarclas 30 in honour of my old mate Peakey who is soon to be married. Given we’ve known each other for almost 30 years and he’s known to say “thirty” more like “firrrrty”, I thought it appropriate to bust out the Glenfarclas 30 Year Old. Here’s to you Peakey, wishing you & Roxy a happy future together mate!

Colour: Deep copper.

Nose: A smooth, sweet nose – dried fruits and toffee. Honey on hot buttered toast. Sweet lemon sherbet. Every time I take a new sniff it reveals different flavours.  Amazing.

Palate: A smooth entry; an oily mouthfeel with flavours that slowly build. The initial mouthful surprises – maybe a burst of blueberries and syrupy charcoal. That might sound a little weird, but it’s actually great. Subsequent mouthfuls have a velvety sweetness with a bold undertone, like some bush honey.

Finish: Buttery toffee, grassy cheesy notes – think honey smothered on grilled haloumi cheese with some fresh herbs. It’s a medium to long finish, such a gradual fade of flavours.

Comments: I really wanted to review this whisky very tongue in cheek, making subtle references to all the crazy “fings” all our mates have gotten up to with Peakey over the past “firrrrty” years or so. But when it came down to it, this is a fantastic whisky that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable, one that could be enjoyed in any situation – a damn fine companion to have by your side for a great night full of good times.

Much like our mate Peakey really.

Whiskies #356 & #357 – Glenfarclas 21 Year Old & Glenfarclas 25 Year Old

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_4451Glenfarclas 21 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, bonus 50mL miniature bottle from a Glenfarclas 15 Year Old gift box.

Colour: Toffied amber.

Nose: Creamy sherried notes; some dried muscatels.

Palate: Some earthy flavours, a little fruity but overall not as sweet or chewy as I would have expected.

Finish: A little dry in the finish. Oak, some very light strawberries and cream flavours.

 

Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, bonus 50mL miniature bottle from a Glenfarclas 15 Year Old gift box.

Colour: Ever so slightly lighter than the 21 year old, which is a minor surprise. There’s really not that much between them though.

Nose: Rich, syrupy berries. Some light oak, just the right amount.

Palate: Salted caramel, quite syrupy, some awesome fruity flavours.
Much more of an oily mouthfeel than the 21 year old.

Finish: Fuller bodied than the 21 year old, still a little drying but there are more sherry notes in the fade. Medium to long length.

Overall comments: I definitely preferred the 25 year old to the 21 year old, it just has more complexity and some sweet chewy characteristics. However, you look across the range I think value for money wise you can’t go past the Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt. I’d be keen to try it side by side with the 25 – it’s been a while since I’ve tasted the 15 year old, but based on tonight’s tasting I think it may even be my preference even compared to the 25 year old.

Whisky #263 – Glenfarclas 1980 Family Casks Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_3832Glenfarclas 1980 Family Casks Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 50.1%. Tasted at Must Winebar, $37.

Colour: Light amber. Not nearly as dark as I thought it might be given it has spent 27 years in an ex sherry barrel.

Nose: A very, very subtle toasted oak. Surprisingly soft given the ABV.

Palate: Quite dry, yet warming. Delicious caramel and hay-like woody notes.

Finish: Intense warming in a good way – like putting your hands close to an open fire. Putting your mouth towards an open fire??? That doesn’t really make much sense, maybe sans the singed eyebrows. You get my drift.

Comments: A single cask release, it’s one of only 681 bottles from a refill sherry butt. Distilled in 1980, bottled in 2007. Yes it’s old and yes it’s quite uncommon, but I’m not convinced it’s worth $37 a nip. A great drop however.

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Whisky #226 – Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_3690Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Sushia, $17.

Colour: Bronze.

Nose: Slightly nutty with a hint of sweetness. Much like my Scottish friend Shelly!

Palate: Salted caramel, much more salt than sweetness though. Plenty of oak.

Finish: Spice and cocoa; warm mouthfeel that builds slightly as the flavours fade.

Comments: Not as smooth as the Glenfarclas 15 nor does it have quite the depth of flavour, as you would expect. Not bad, but if this was a horse race and you had to back one, I’d be looking to its stablemate.

Whisky #139 – Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_3436Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: A police officer of above average intelligence…bright copper.

Nose: Rich, sweet sultanas. It gets even better with time in the glass.

Palate: Caramelised brown sugar, dried muscatels, lots of sherry notes. A hint of soft  charcoal. Not a whole heap of heat, just soft buttery flavours and some spices.

Finish: Peppery oak but with some residual sweetness, especially as you lick your lips. And you’ll want to, because this is a great drop. Quite a long finish, only a very gentle heat though.

Comments: A very solid whisky, great flavour profile and complexity. It’s no wonder this is such a popular drop, you really can’t go wrong with one of these in your collection.

Whisky #105 – Glenfarclas 105, 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_2818Glenfarclas 105, 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 60.00%. $32 – Tasted at Malt Supper Club.

Colour: Bourbon-like bronze colour. I think (hard to tell in a dark bar).

Nose: Plenty of phenols, overpowering most flavours to be honest.

Palate: Big spice, lots of alcohol heat (to be expected from a cask strength though). Not much sweetness.

Finish: Long heat, long spice.

Comments: Ha, by sheer dumb luck whisky #105 is the Glenfarclas 105. Could not have planned that any better! Unfortunately it’s not as refined or tasty as I would expect for the price point. It’s called the Glenfarclas 105 as it’s 105 proof, as if they’re a wee bit proud of producing a whisky at such a strength. Ultimately, I think the alcohol is a little too dominating of the flavours here, definitely not the finest Glenfarclas I’ve tried before.

Whisky #78 – The Ultimate Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Mystery Speyside 1966

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_2713The Ultimate Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Mystery Speyside 1966. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.30%. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014, $32 (half nip) from the ‘Old & Rare’ bar.

Undisclosed “mystery Speyside”. It’s a Glenfarclas, but an independent bottling from The Ultimate Whisky Company. Distilled in 1966, bottled 04/10/2012.  Bottle no. 102 of 182.

Well the Glenfarclas 1966, I’ll first throw it open to the floor (i.e. my whisky fiend mates)…what do we think boys?  “Pretty damn good.”  “Fucking sensational” added another.  It’s almost as old as my mate Canning…to which he added “almost as old as my older brother”.  Younger brother don’t you mean mate?  😉

For me, it had some delicious soft flavours of muscatels and sultanas, but not too strong.  It was very subtle, very smooth, kinda sweet and syrupy.  Bit of a fruity sort of nose and a lovely, smooth well balanced finish – not too strong in spice or heat, a very drinkable whisky (to put it mildly!). Much like the Glenrothes 1969 The MacPhail’s Collection, I guess it comes as no surprise that these amazing flavours are going to be extremely complex yet very smooth and subtle having spent 46 years in a barrel. Another amazing dram!