Glenfarclas 25 Year
43% ABV
$140-$180
Website
What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso sherry cask maturation.
A great after-dinner whisky so rich and full that it is a dessert in itself, with a finish that goes on forever.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Amber with dark-gold highlights.
Nose: Complex, yet refined, with tempting aromas of marmalade, honey, freshly ground coffee, sherry and nuts. Some oaky tannins.
Flavour: Full-bodied and robust, the sherry and the oak fight for your attention yet neither overpowering.
Finish: Intense, long lasting, dry and malty. A beautiful dark chocolate taste at the back of your mouth to complete the 25 years old.
What Gary Says
Nose: Herbal, grassy, vegetal with notes of green tobacco and leather; a bit of water brings out a subtle sweetness with peaches and honey.
Palate: Bam! Sherried almonds in fruits salad with pears, honey, chocolate and nutmeg sprinkled in; a subtle port-like nuance going on.
Finish: Long, nutty sweetness with a spice kick at the end (when you get there).
Comments: This is even lighter in color than the 21 yr AND the 17 yr (very odd). The nose was a bit of an enigma; like the 17 yr, it is a departure from the rest of the range – lacking in those sherried dark fruit notes you expect with an aged single malt that’s been in Oloroso sherry this long. But it makes a big comeback on the palate, delivering those sweet fruity notes. I got a port-like sweetness near the end on the palate, which I particularly liked (like the 21 yr, left me to wonder if there was other wood involved – but there isn’t). A delicious dram, although with a beguiling nose.
Rating: Stands Out
(Richard had reviewed this as part of a Whisky Advent calendar; below are his notes from that review)
What Richard Says
Nose: Rich, deep, and refined sherry character with just a little bit of oak and tannins in the back.
Palate: Creamed honey, lighter sherry than the nose would foretell, oak, and a pinch of cracked pepper.
Finish: Lots of lingering cocoa powder and oak.
Comments: This is a lovely example of an older sherried single malt. Glenfarclas also seems to be priced rather attractively for a 25 year old. However, this particular malt is a little less complex than I would expect or hope for. Oak, tannins, and sherry are the predominate notes (understandably) but I’m not getting much else. Even still, this is a very nice dram and one you should consider trying, given the opportunity.