Stands Out

Glenfarclas 21 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 21 Year
43% ABV
$115-$140
Website

What the Distiller Says
100% Oloroso sherry cask maturation.
An incredibly rounded whisky that leaves you refreshed and contented. A whisky that always deserves a second glass.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Dark amber-gold.
Nose: Intense, full of aromas – sherried fruit, tropical fruit, nutmeg and almonds with slight citrus notes at the end.
Flavour: Full bodied rich and rounded, develops slowly into fruity and spicy flavours.
Finish: Long-lasting and smooth with a chocolate feel at the back of your throat.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick and rich, sherried raisins, apricots, figs; a hint of barbecue sauce (vinegar, brown sugar) with a subtle nutty spice; notes of tobacco, leather and coffee cake
Palate:  Rich sherry sweetness, cherries, peaches, toasted orange marmalade with walnuts; creamy mouthfeel to start but then sharpens with toffee and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, sweet, drying with a smokey/nutty spice.
Comments:  A delicious whisky by all accounts – and a flavor intensity I rarely experience with a 43% ABV dram. A fair amount of complexity, nicely balanced between sweet, spicy, and oaky elements, a creamy mouthfeel – until it isn’t. Thus far, this is my favorite offering from Glenfarclas (with the 15 yr being a close second). Not quite as sharp as some of the others, but enough of that unmistakenable Glenfarclas edge you don’t doubt its heritage. Even at 43%, it handles a little water nicely – with the fruit notes stepping up, but not losing the spiciness.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength
60% ABV
$85 – $100
Website

What the Distiller Says
Bold & Punchy
A great whisky holding all the flavours of all the Glenfarclas in one glass. Don’t be afraid of the strength and order a 210, if you dare! The smoothness makes the 105 drinkable at cask strength, but I would suggest adding a little water, to fully explore its’ great depth

Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep peaty-gold.
Nose: Complex, oaky, apples & pears and a tempting dark toffee sweetness.
Flavour: Dry and assertive, develops quickly to reveal a rich spiciness, combined with a hint of oak and sherried fruit.
Finish: Amazingly smooth for the strength, wonderful warming with a lingering spiciness, yet very rounded.

What Gary Says
Nose:  A tad thin and hot, oaky, cigar boxes with fennel and just a hint of fruit.
Palate:  Intense cinnamon, peaches, honey with a peppery spice; a bit of water brings out some chocolate notes and tamps the spice just a bit.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying.
Comments:  The nose is a bit odd to me; usually higher proof drams like this have an intense nose but I didn’t get much beyond alcohol and oak. The palate delivered that intense flavor, and this opens up beautifully with some water. The nose also improved, but was still more muted than the palate in comparison. I love how it clouds up in the glass with a bit of water too. You may be wondering “Why 105 when it is 120 proof?” The 105 name refers to the British Proof, which equates to 60% ABV (thanks Google!) Too few cask strength offerings out there in single malts; enjoying this leaves me wondering why.
Rating: Stands Out

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Glenfarclas 15 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glenfarclas 15 Year
46% ABV
$60 – $70 (not currently distributed in the US)
Website

What the Distiller Says
We bottle this at 46% simply because my grandfather preferred it at this strength. It’s still a family favourite. This is perfect for single malt enthusiasts.

Tasting Notes
Colour: A rich golden amber.
Nose: Complex, sherried, light butterscotch aromas, with a hint of dried fruit.
Flavour: Full bodied with a superb balance of sherried sweetness and malty tones.
Finish: Long lasting, gloriously sherried, sweet and distinguished.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich and thick, plums, toffee, rice pudding with charred oak, and a sharp smokey note; just a tad hot.
Palate:  Sweet, thick sherry with candied pecans, bitter chocolate, nutmeg; smokey with a hint of tobacco in the end.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with a tobacco note lingering.
Comments:  This is darker in color than the 12 yr. While I prefer the nose on the 12 yr, on the palate this is very nice – well balanced, a bit less sweet with more bite. Some water opens it up nicely – tamping down the spice and bringing the sweet to the front. Overall I prefer drinking this over the 12, which is unfortunate since this doesn’t seem to be offered in the US.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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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

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Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye
40% ABV
$45
Website / Press Release

What the Distiller Says
Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon, one of the fastest growing super-premium bourbons on the market, proudly announces the limited time release of Basil Hayden’s® Two by Two Rye. An unprecedented blend of two Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskies and two Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskies, Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye breaks category norms to offer whiskey fans the best of both worlds: the full spiciness of rye, complemented by the sweet characteristics and finish of bourbon.

Two by Two Rye offers a premium blend of two ryes and two bourbons, which have been artfully combined to find the perfect complement in one another. With a balance of 5-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye, a 7-year-old “high-rye” Kentucky Straight Rye, a 13-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and a 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the result is a wholly unique whiskey that makes a name for itself in the category and remains approachable to discover at 80 proof.

Best enjoyed sipped neat or on the rocks, Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye features the following characteristics:

Color: Golden Honey
Aroma: Rich caramel and brown sugar with a sumptuous, woody rye flavor profile
Body: Smooth, medium-bodied
Taste: A balanced blend of sumptuous rye and brown sweets with an ample woody accent
Finish: A pleasant, long lingering warmth

What Gary Says
Nose:  Musty oak, sweet with bright citrus spice notes, subtle vanilla, honey, a hint of anise and ginger.
Palate:  Fruit forward – oranges, pears, bits of cherry, maybe some peaches; subtle vanilla notes and a hint of cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with drying spice.
Comments:  Reading the press release on this, I was intrigued for a number of reasons. First, I really appreciate the transparency of disclosing the component ages, as well as differentiating the rye components (not the mashbill specifics, but like that they call it out). Second, I’m a fan of bourbon/rye blends. Sometimes. There aren’t a ton out there, but I enjoy High West Bourye, while not being especially fond of Wild Turkey Forgiven. This didn’t remind me of either of those (so check the “unique” box!) I found this incredibly fruity, and more sweet than I expected – like a fruit salad in whiskey form. While there wasn’t anything specifically objectionable about this whiskey, I was hoping it would be better balanced. The fruit notes all but hide the bourbon – and with older bourbon in the mix I was disappointed about that. The nose is a bit better balanced, but the palate was . . . have I mentioned fruity? Maybe at a higher ABV some of the other notes would stand out more, and while I’d LOVE to try this at a higher ABV, I get that the Basil Hayden lineup is keeping it consistent. If you’re a fan of Basil Hayden and looking for something different, this could be right up your alley.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Beam-Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

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