Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Glenfarclas.
Bottler: SMWS.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 58.7%. Cask Strength.
Age: 15 Years. Distilled on 10 May 2004.
Cask type: Bourbon Barrel (13Y), First Fill Oloroso Hogshead.
Nose: Chocolate, dried fruit, and pepper; cocoa butter with raisins, dried plums, and subtle baking spices with tingling cinnamon, chicory, and nutmeg; woodsy and more botanical with time.
Palate: Medium-bodied and viscous with an oily finish, dried fruits and tingling spice with a touch of petrol or garage rags: black pepper, cinnamon, licorice, and chicory; chocolate with hints of cream, more lacquered wood, nutmeg, and heather toward the end.
Finish: Medium to long and drying with cocoa, dried grass, and pepper.
Mental Image: Sampling the Baking Supplies.
Conclusion: Aptly named by SMWS, this Glenfarclas was loaded with sherry-cask-driven cocoa and baking spices. A bit of creamy spirit and heather came through, though the first fill oloroso hogshead was largely in control. I enjoyed the desserty aspects of the malt and cask, though I wish more espresso or richer roasty notes also came through. This lacked the unctuous richness that I really adore on cask strength Glenfarclas and often find missing on their core products. However, it still had hints of petrol and dirty garage shop rags, those motor oil and slightly dirtier notes that give Glenfarclas some of its depth.
We included this as part of a big “newbie tasting set” for members of our local whisky group during the pandemic, and this is one of the last samples that I never got around to reviewing. I think it made for a good introduction to Glenfarclas for anyone unfamiliar with the distillery and certainly showed off the sort of bright spice that potential scotch fans coming from bourbon or Irish pot still might enjoy.
Overall, good, not great.
Final Score: 80.
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.
Malt Runners 