Moving on with a classic Speyside distillery, Glenfarclas. Glenfarclas is known for a couple keys things that I can think of:
1. They are an independent distillery; and
2. They make delicious whiskies aged in former Sherry casks
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| Click to enlarge - Glenfarclas 105 |
Colour: beautiful deep amber
Nose: this is what Christmas smells like! Sweet fruit cake with spice (and everything nice) and drizzled with icing. I get dark, soft fruit like dates on the nose. There's also a bit of alcohol burn from the 60% alcohol content but not too much. If you know Glenfarclas at all, this is unmistakably 'farclas. If you're new and trying to figure out what sherry aging does or can do to whisky, this would be a perfect educational example.
Palate: wow! That is a big pop of sherry-aged flavour! Its sweet and really opens in the mouth with all sorts of fruit and spices and solid shot of heat. The "Whisky Bitch" referred to this as a "Sherry bomb" and I think that is a good way to describe this. Simply bursts with flavour. Lovely christmas cake notes with rewarding sugars. Some tasted oak shows up as you chew through this. There's almost a little lemon at one point.
(Add about 5 drops of water): It softens and opens and gets creamier or something. This is desert.
Finish: long and warm. The warmth and flavours make it right down into your chest and leave you feeling relaxed and cozy. Good one for a cold day!
Drink this on Christmas eve or any other time you want desert or a warm massage from the inside. Jim McEwan once said that, when you drink whisky, you should be able to picture the people who made it. I met George Grant last year and I must say, he is a warm and sweet fellow just like his family's whisky. Check out the Family Cask 2002 I bought at that event that George signed for me!
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| Click to enlarge - The Glenfarclas Family Cask 2002 signed by George Grant. Good whisky by good people. |
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