Speyside

Glenfarclas 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfarclas 12 Year
43% ABV
$47 – $55
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso Sherry Cask Maturation.
An excellent introduction to the distillery style – for those who enjoy a sherried whisky.
To be consumed neat or with a drop of water.
A great accompaniment to smoked salmon or Ibérico Ham.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Vibrant, amber-gold.
Nose: Fresh and beautifully light, sherried fruit combined with a tempting spicy sweetness and a hint of sappy oak.
Flavour: Full-bodied with a delightful sherried fruit, oak and delicious sweet sensations.
Finish: Long and flavoursome, with a lingering spiciness.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich, thick nose of dark sherried fruit; plums, figs, pears with a note of balsamic vinegar; almonds dusted with cocoa.
Palate:  Rich sweetness, chocolate covered raisins with an earthy spiciness; a bit of mossy smoke with a hint of ginger at the end.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying, with trailing cinnamon.
Comments:  Wow – what a difference a couple of years (and a few proof points) make! We’re conditioned to expect single malts to improve with age, but I was (pleasantly) surprised by how much of a step up this was from the 10 yr. A delicious sherried highland single malt; with more of a spice edge than is typical of the style (which I very much appreciate).
Rating: Stands Out

Glenfarclas 12 Year Read More »

Glenfarclas 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfarclas 10 Year
40% ABV
$40
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso Sherry Cask Maturation.
Gloriously smooth, yet with the depth and finish you would normally expect of a much older dram.
A wonderfully sherried whisky and an excellent aperitif.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Vibrant, straw-gold.
Nose: Tempting sherry-sweet malty tones combine with delicate aromas, releasing subtle spices. Warming the glass reveals honey, vanilla and pear drops.
Flavour:Delicately light, with a mouth-watering combination of maltiness, sherry sweetness. Hints of drived fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves tempt the taste buds further.
Finish: Long, smooth and spicy.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sherried raisins, green apples with an underlying heather/earthiness; a hint of solvent.
Palate:  Sweet start, malty with honey, bits of dark chocolate and kiwi; sharpens to a peppery vegetal (maybe mashed potatoes?) note with just a hint of smoke.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, and drying.
Comments:  This was my introduction to Glenfarclas – starting with the youngest expression in their “aged range” (not sure how old the 105 Cask Strength is, reports are it is younger than 10 yrs). While nothing off-putting, I thought it was a bit thin – and not as fruity on the palate as I’d expect from the nose. Maybe at a higher proof this would be more up my alley. The 12 yr is a significant step up from this.
Rating: Average

Glenfarclas 10 Year Read More »

Aberlour Double Cask 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aberlour Double Cask Matured 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$50
Website
8812467945502
What the Distillery Says:
The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour’s raw spirit is deftly softened by double cask maturation. Traditional oak and seasoned Sherry butts are both used to great effect, as the mellowed spirits within are combined to deliver a subtly balanced flavour.

Colour: Golden amber with hints of ruby.
Nose: Soft and rounded, with fruity notes of red apple.
Palate: A fine sherried character, balanced with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and ginger spiciness.
Finish: Warming and lingering – sweet and slightly spicy.

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is just a whisper of sherry on the nose. Not in the least bit a “sherry bomb”. It’s more malty and grain forward with a wildflower backdrop.
Palate: Sweet and nice but a bit thin. Fruity sweet with a bit of nuts thrown it. It’s like fruit cake but without the baking spices.
Finish: Drying and slightly bitter with a pinch of black pepper.
Comments: A fine, serviceable in the $50 range. It’s one of the expressions that Aberlour adds caramel coloring to if you are the type to be curious about such things. This used to be a bit of a deal compared to Macallan 12, even though I like the Macallan a bit better. However, Aberlour prices are creeping up too. If you are an experienced malt drinker this probably won’t blow you socks off. It’s a bit meh compared to A’bunadh or their older expressions. It’s nice all the same.
Rating: Average

Aberlour Double Cask 12 Year Read More »

Advent Day 8: Cardhu 12

/ / Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

A classic from Diageo and Cardhu on the 8th day of Advent…

Cardhu Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
40% ABV
$50
Website

What the Distillery Says
Nose: At full strength, heady, nose prickle, pear drops and tightly integrated heather, resin and sweet honey-nut notes. Enticing. Intriguing. With a little water, still harmonious but less pronounced, allowing some malt cereal, soft, spicy wood, moorland and faint traces of wood-smoke to appear.
Palate: Well balanced, smooth mouthfeel; short punch, sweet and fresh, then a pronounced drying effect. Moorish. Enjoyable at any time, with little or no water.
Finish: Quite short. Some lingering sweet smoke in the attractive, drying aftertaste.

What Richard Says
Nose: Malty and nutty with honey sweetness.
Palate: Wildflower honey, lightly smoky, orange marmalade, sweet nuts, and creamy vanilla.
Finish: Floral and spicy laid on a woody base.
Comments: Cardhu was hard to come by for a while. It was a huge seller in Spain but the decline in their consumption made it more available. Most Cardhu goes into Johnnie Walker blends but more expression are being made available as a single malt. The 12 Year Old is a great introduction to the distillery.
Rating: On the better side of Average

Advent Day 8: Cardhu 12 Read More »

Advent Day 6: Glenfiddich XX

/ / Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Day 6 of Advent brings another curiosity that has peaked my interest but I had to experience…

Glenfiddich Experimental Series Project XX Single Malt Scotch Whisky
47% ABV
$65
Website

What the Distillery Says
Our second experiment of the series took place privately at our Conval warehouse. Shrouded in secrecy, malt Master Brian Kinsman invited 20 whisky experts from around the world to select any expression of their choosing from the thousands of stacked casks. The final 20 chosen malts, matured in everything from port pipes to virgin bourbon barrels, have created an unusual, innovative and unexpected whisky, one that has exceeded even our expectations.

20 of the whisky industry’s most exceptional minds came together to create this truly unique, pioneering single malt expression.

With its deep golden hue, Project XX embodies the warm, fruity character of a classic Glenfiddich whisky with hints of apple blossom, summer fruits and ripe pear. But its multiple personalities are revealed with hints of sweet candyfloss, cinnamon spice, almonds and rich port tannins with the odd whisper of liquorice. Deep and mellow, the finish is long lasting with a lingering sweet oakiness.

What Richard Says
Nose: Sweet barley wine, under ripe crisp green apples, and wet pine needles.
Palate: Cotton candy sweet, cinnamon Red Hots, and vanilla malted milkshake.
Finish: Black pepper and heavy cinnamon spice with a linger nutty and malty character.
Comments: This is a dram for those with a sweet tooth. While this is enjoyable, it doesn’t quite meld together as well as I would hope. This is nice and easy drink but it isn’t something that I would come back to very often. It is more of a curiosity rather than something you should seek out.
Rating: Stands Out

Advent Day 6: Glenfiddich XX Read More »