Glenfarclas 29 Year (1992) Family Casks Kensington Wine Market 30th Anniversary Pick

Review by: The Muskox

Glenfarclas is a distillery that I feel like I haven’t gotten the best of yet – I’ve had good ones, but no really great ones. This bottling looks like it could break that streak. It’s one of the esteemed Family Casks, bottled exclusively for Alberta’s Kensington Wine Market.

Distillery: Glenfarclas

Bottler: Official bottling

Region: Speyside

ABV: 52.6%. Cask Strength.

Age: 29 Years. Distilled May 15th 1992. Bottled January 29th 2022.

Cask type: Cask #2906, a sherry butt.

Price: N/A (sample)

Color: 1.6, Mahogany. Natural Color. Non-Chill Filtered.

Nose: Lots of grapefruit pith, dried plum, clove-studded orange. Very dark cooked sugar, angostura bitters, star anise, shaved baking chocolate. Dunnage and charred oak. There’s a little of that strange earthy lipstick character that I also got on that Glenmorangie Grand Vintage ’91. Tomato ketchup! A copper metallic note and a tiny hint of sulfur (not enough to cause problems for me).

Palate: Medium texture, essentially no heat at all. Arrives with red berries, muscat grapes, mangosteen, cola, toffee, and pears. Long and luxurious development, rich dark oak, old leather, cherry cola, deep dunnage warehouse, and a hint of bitter char. Dark chocolate cake, walnuts, and Bordeaux cherries.

Finish: Fairly short actually. Chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate babka, more cherries. Dunnage and just a hint of sulfur.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “Black forest cake faceplant”

Conclusion: This is indeed very good! Tastes like about what I expected – big dark sherry, very earthy, with strong oak and leather but not overbearing. Not usually the style I go for, but I can’t deny that it’s done well here. I’m a little bummed about the short finish, but oh well.

Final Score: 86.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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