Glenfarclas 8 Year (2013), SMWS 1.262 “A commune of delights”

Review by: Whiskery Turnip

Distillery: Glenfarclas.

Bottler: SMWS.

Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.

ABV: 60.3%. Cask Strength.

Age: 8 Years. Distilled on 26 Feb. 2023.

Cask type: Bourbon Barrel (5Y), First Fill Cosecha Wine Barrique.

Nose: Herbal and fruity, licorice with notions of musty herbal spices and candies, more subtle apples, plums, ink, and berries; more time brought out chocolate, malted milk balls, and bubble gum.

Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, herbal and fruity with old-fashioned candies or medicinal cough drops, bubble gum; more fruit punch developed with subtle tobacco, cotton candy, and cola.

Finish: Medium-length, with fruits, sodas, and bubblegum.

Mental Image: Fun Fair Sugar Rush.

Conclusion: Musty dried fruits and licorice candies provided richness to herbal mint, horehound, mugwort, and teases of lemongrass.  That herbal character, familiar in old candies or cough drops, carried on with apples, plums, calligraphy ink, and subtle berries. With time came hints of chocolate, malted milk balls, and bubble gum.  Medium-bodied and oily, the flavor profile was much the same but with an overarching layer of bubble gum across apricot, lime, and green apple-flavored hard candies infused with medicinal herbs. Fruit punch with subtle tobacco carried on as cotton candy and cola arrived near the end.  The finish was medium-length, with fruits, sodas, and bubblegum.

Let me first admit again that I do not like bubblegum notes.  Take away those, and everything else here was quite lovely, from the herbal-fruity profile to the oily mouthfeel of the malt. Yes, the flavors were a bit simple and too sweet for my taste, but I could see the appeal and found the overall effect quite enjoyable.  I love old-fashioned herbal candies and cola notes, but the bubble gum was too distracting from those more virtuous elements.

Overall, a whisky for chilling and fans of sweeter fare.

Final Score: 77.

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.

Published by Whiskery Turnip

Whisky reviews from Hawaiʻi and beyond. My wife is a peat monster; her influence can be seen in my preferences for earthy, dirty, and sometimes very weird malts. If given a choice, I will almost always choose whisky from a refill cask, especially regarding sherry. I am a big fan of the world whisky scene, especially single malts. You will not find my reviewing much more than whisky, but I am also a big fan of sake.

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