Price: £190.00
ABV: 48%
Chill Filtered: No
Natural Colour: Yes
Supplier: The Whisky Shop
Description: Although not widely publicised, this expression is believed to be a Glenfarclas 28 year old. It was distilled in 1986 and bottled in February 2015 at 48% volume from a Sherry Butt - with only 306 bottles of this edition in existence, this expression is an affordable step into the exclusive world of collector’s whisky and exclusively available through The Whisky Shop. Retaining the rich sweetness of a Glenfarclas of this age, this expression also oozes a great sense of adventure as you unlock its full character, an exciting and bold character worthy of Robert Louis Stevenson.
General Comment: Readers of WhiskyPassions.com may know that this bottling was named as the best value Luxury whisky on the market (in my humble but highly informed opinion). At £190 it had better be good then; well it is, outstanding in fact. The colour of this whisky tells us that it has clearly spent its 28 years in a refill Sherry butt, as that length of time in a fresh and unused Sherry butt would have produced something significantly darker. But as Heinz Ketchup taught us in the 80's (before squeezy bottles) the best things come to those who wait. Excellent whisky's such as BenRiach Cask Strength Batch One and even the BenRiach 20 yrs Old show us how a wonderfully rich sherried and vanilla taste can be shortcutted; but really there is simply no replacement for time, and Father Time has crafted a magnificent liquid from the sherry wood and spirit of Glenfarclas. You have to pay a luxury price for luxury whisky, but the experience of drinking a fine aged whisky of true quality can simply not be replicated by younger whisky's, even the very best. Quite simply this whisky is superior to bottles several times its price.
Nose: Revisiting this whisky, the nose isn't the richest or most spectacular I've ever encountered; whilst remaining pleasing. There is a definite and distinct perfumed woodiness to the nose; sandlewood-esque, but not in a way that is off putting. There is also little evidence of traditional sherried fruits; raisins, currants, even plums, blackberries etc. The fruits here on the nose are much fresher and greener; Granny Smith apples with that slight citric edge. That said, I'm starting to detect sultanas, which of course are a classic combination with green apples. A bread and butter pudding style dessert nose is emerging; buttery, brioche-style bread accompanying the fruitiness.
Palate: The palate definitely reflects the nose; at least initially. It is rich, creamy and buttery. A rich vanilla white custard with a few heavy splashes of sherry, made to accompany a rich Christmas pud jumps immediately out of the glass. Those classic sherried fruits are emerging thick and fast. I love whisky that presents it's sherried side in this style; however the age and quality of this whisky and the wood it resided in for nearly three decades has added multiple waves of delightful nuance. This truly is an outstanding whisky. It is that fresh bite of green apple that runs through the classic rich vanilla and sherried fruits that really helps elevate this whisky to 'special'; even at this price. Is there a hint of orange zest in there? Quite possibly. It's starting to evoke notions of fruity mince pie style mincemeat as the vagaries of different ingredients emerge; cloves, cinnamon, salted butter, a dash of brandy, amongst others.
Finish: The finish booms with brandy soaked Christmas pudding and rich vanilla white sauce. This is Glenfarclas at is optimum; and boy is it good. Being critical, I'd say that the finish is surprisingly short; certainly at the intensity I'd expect for a whisky that's as old as this, non chillfiltered, and at natural cask strength. A mintiness certainly emerges giving a nod to the age of the liquid.
I'm not going to write much about what this whisky is like with water as it's very similar to what is written above. It's essentially the same. The finish seems to onset earlier and last longer; but ultimately it's not quite as good; still outstanding, but it's a little woodier and ever so slightly flatter. A touch of marzipan is definitely present on the palate and is thoroughly enjoyable. Banana toffee starts to become the dominant flavour on the finish; again enjoyably. Overall however I'll be drinking this primarily without water and at the full 48%. Well done Whisky Shop, well done.
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General Comment: Readers of WhiskyPassions.com may know that this bottling was named as the best value Luxury whisky on the market (in my humble but highly informed opinion). At £190 it had better be good then; well it is, outstanding in fact. The colour of this whisky tells us that it has clearly spent its 28 years in a refill Sherry butt, as that length of time in a fresh and unused Sherry butt would have produced something significantly darker. But as Heinz Ketchup taught us in the 80's (before squeezy bottles) the best things come to those who wait. Excellent whisky's such as BenRiach Cask Strength Batch One and even the BenRiach 20 yrs Old show us how a wonderfully rich sherried and vanilla taste can be shortcutted; but really there is simply no replacement for time, and Father Time has crafted a magnificent liquid from the sherry wood and spirit of Glenfarclas. You have to pay a luxury price for luxury whisky, but the experience of drinking a fine aged whisky of true quality can simply not be replicated by younger whisky's, even the very best. Quite simply this whisky is superior to bottles several times its price.
Without Water
Nose: Revisiting this whisky, the nose isn't the richest or most spectacular I've ever encountered; whilst remaining pleasing. There is a definite and distinct perfumed woodiness to the nose; sandlewood-esque, but not in a way that is off putting. There is also little evidence of traditional sherried fruits; raisins, currants, even plums, blackberries etc. The fruits here on the nose are much fresher and greener; Granny Smith apples with that slight citric edge. That said, I'm starting to detect sultanas, which of course are a classic combination with green apples. A bread and butter pudding style dessert nose is emerging; buttery, brioche-style bread accompanying the fruitiness.
Palate: The palate definitely reflects the nose; at least initially. It is rich, creamy and buttery. A rich vanilla white custard with a few heavy splashes of sherry, made to accompany a rich Christmas pud jumps immediately out of the glass. Those classic sherried fruits are emerging thick and fast. I love whisky that presents it's sherried side in this style; however the age and quality of this whisky and the wood it resided in for nearly three decades has added multiple waves of delightful nuance. This truly is an outstanding whisky. It is that fresh bite of green apple that runs through the classic rich vanilla and sherried fruits that really helps elevate this whisky to 'special'; even at this price. Is there a hint of orange zest in there? Quite possibly. It's starting to evoke notions of fruity mince pie style mincemeat as the vagaries of different ingredients emerge; cloves, cinnamon, salted butter, a dash of brandy, amongst others.
Finish: The finish booms with brandy soaked Christmas pudding and rich vanilla white sauce. This is Glenfarclas at is optimum; and boy is it good. Being critical, I'd say that the finish is surprisingly short; certainly at the intensity I'd expect for a whisky that's as old as this, non chillfiltered, and at natural cask strength. A mintiness certainly emerges giving a nod to the age of the liquid.
With Water
I'm not going to write much about what this whisky is like with water as it's very similar to what is written above. It's essentially the same. The finish seems to onset earlier and last longer; but ultimately it's not quite as good; still outstanding, but it's a little woodier and ever so slightly flatter. A touch of marzipan is definitely present on the palate and is thoroughly enjoyable. Banana toffee starts to become the dominant flavour on the finish; again enjoyably. Overall however I'll be drinking this primarily without water and at the full 48%. Well done Whisky Shop, well done.
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