Glenfarclas Single Whisky has been distilled on Speyside for six generations by one family – the Grants. The Glenfarclas Distillery was established in 1836, on the Recherlich Farm at Ballindalloch. In 1865, purchased by John Grant for £511.19s.0d
Whiskey Chap
Glenfarclas 10, 15, 21, 25, 105, 11yr old Southport bottling tasted on the 23rd December 2020.
Glenfarclas 10yr old, 40% ABV.
Appearance – This is light straw in colour, it’s very viscous tbh, and has lovely syrupy legs for a 10 yr old.
I wonder if it’s the glass mate, mine is very viscous 🤷♂️#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Nose – I’m initially getting cocktail cherries and sweet lemon, there’s definitely cereals in there, I’ll go flapjack atm. I’m going to say a lemon/honey mix, it’s sweeter than I expected tbh, it’s nice though.
On the nose, grapes, summer honey and a touch vegetal #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
I agree, some white pepper peeping through, and icing sugar, this isn’t what my brain was expecting tbh.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate – It’s still very sweet, I’d say tropical and stoned fruits, there’s a bit of white pepper bite too which is nice. The vegetal notes are still there and it’s developing for me into spicier and darker notes. I’m getting an oiliness now, I’m taste and texture, we differ here, I’m liking this tbh, it’s good for a 10yr old imho. And a sneaky hint of salt too.
I’d say average. It is developing, but not in any way that would attract me to buy a bottle #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
Finish – It’s medium in length, there’s still sweetness and tropical fruits, not much in the way of wood though, quite light tbh.
Overall – That’s not bad for an entry level drop, I’ve had others that are far more disappointing tbh. I rather enjoyed it. It’s not a wow whisky, but is a good entry whisky.
Glenfarclas 15yr old, 46% ABV.
Appearance – It’s slightly darker than the 10, damp straw perhaps, again it’s quite viscous with slow syrupy legs.
yeah legs lovely and slow #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Nose – The difference in ABV is quite surprising, it’s deeper, bolder, and spicier. We have figs, cream soda, bbq meat, sweet liquorice.
Agreed, this is a world above the 10 on the nose for me #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
wife says it doesnt smell like tcp but does smell of caramel#thewhiskeychaps #wifetastingnotes
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
There’s a note of smoke with this too, didn’t expect that, perhaps some menthol.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate – Nice mouthfeel, lots more depth, still citrus spicy with white pepper, cinnamon, some ginger, not the sweet stuff though, salty again, and oily, I would even say slightly nutty too, really nice tbh.
mmmm yeah its more pronoucned for sure. getting caramel sweetness on the palette now, bit of bite and pepper #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Salted caramel 👌, you guys getting salt at all?#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Finish – Quite a bit longer than the 10, still oily, salty, minty, honey, much spicier too, honey, cinnamon, pushing into cigar leaves here tbh. And after a while there’s a perfumed note, right before it starts to fade, it’s very nice.
#thewhiskeychaps Gentlemen, I give you…the nerdiest picture I ever took in a distillery. pic.twitter.com/lT7HPZlQlE
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
Overall – As much as the 10yr old is a great entry level whisky in my opinion, this 15yr old jumps way ahead in all areas, i would say that paying the extra to get this 15yr old is well worth it, it’s only £15-16 more. a bottle i’d definitely buy.
Glenfarclas 21yr old, 43% ABV.
Appearance – This is light straw in colour like the 10yr old, very viscous again, syrupy thick swirl line and thick legs.
Nose – As we’re going through these I’m getting some similar notes, so presuming it’s their spirit dna. Menthol again, thicker tropical and stoned fruits like the 10yr old. Sweet cocktail cherries, and some light dunnage notes. I’m getting cream soda again, perhaps a little touch of furniture Polish now, it’s getting dusty, but it’s also elegant.
good shout batman – yeah there’s definitely a core distillery profile and menthol is there, melon/honey/tropical and i get raisins / caramel #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
It may well do, these drams are different, certainly from what I expected.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate – Ooooh very confectionery sweet initially, jelly beans and fruit cocktail syrup from a can, sugar coated lemon sweet slices, oily in mouthfeel and in flavour, salinity is there also, but mainly confectionery, reminds me of Strathisla 12 with the sweeties. It has some Campbeltown oiliness going on, I really like this.
#thewhiskeychaps I always found the core range a bit lacking (Although I need to try a bottle of the 15) so went for 105 and family casks. Always found lots of almond and marzipan. The sign of refill sherry! They will tell you they ONLY use sherry casks, they may be fibbing 😉
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
I find melon and furniture Polish quite close, strange isn’t it.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
boom #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
Finish – They’re getting longer, and spicier on the finish, black pepper now, ginger, hot cinnamon, dark chocolate, cigar leaves, dunnage, I think the age difference really shows here on the finish, much darker and heavier notes.
We agree again!!! #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps No… I know the story about how 105 came to be. I also know it was the 1st cask strength core range in Scotch.
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
Overall – Getting better and better as they get older in my opinion, the core flavours are there but the peripheral flavours have changed slightly, there’s more depth too, a cracking drop that i’d definitely buy.
Glenfarclas 25yr old, 43% ABV.
Appearance – This one is damp straw in colour, similar to the 15yr old, again very viscous on the glass, with syrupy thick legs.
Nose – We have many of the notes from the younger drops, now it has cherry syrup, cut grass/hay, more cereals, still menthol, still a sweet affair on the nose, a little BBQ meats note, and furniture Polish again.
It’s a lot from before, but dialled up #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps Currently I have about 50 bottles of GF, staves and a cask end from 1984. Including 12 family casks…which is where they really shine. SMWS did some good ones, but GF don’t sell to IBs anymore…or is that another fib they tell 😉
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
They aren’t lacking anything tbh Paul, just lighter in flavour so far, which I really like 👍 #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate – Loverly mouthfeel and gentle arrival, it’s still tropical/stoned fruits for me, some white pepper, oiliness too, a slight salinity, not as much as the others though, cheesecake base here too, it’s slowly building up.
Biscuit base, yes #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
And the perfume note we’ve been getting too.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Finish – Medium length, lovely warming gentle spices, a little oak, black pepper, a little dryness, and salinity again.
I agree, very gentle and warming.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Nice!!! #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Really is, and I still have oil and salt on my lips 👍#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps Fun Fact: Old 105s used to be age stated at 10 years old. But due to the temperature rises (Global warming, apparently) they couldnt keep the 10 y/o at 60% so dropped it to NAS, it is now 7,8 and 9 year old vatted.
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
Overall – Of the age statement official distillery bottling this was my favourite, the depth, maturity and marriage of casks is wonderful, i could very easily sit with a couple of drops of this any evening.
Glenfarclas 105, 60% ABV.
Appearance – This drop is also damp straw in colour, beads up on the swirl line, with small teardrop legs.
we have legs convergence – also seeing viscous legs #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Nose –
Much higher ABV, but not a slap, cherry throat sweets, cut grass, sweet lemon, old leather, figs, more vegetal, caster sugar, hand rolling tobacco, and a slight salinity.
GF 105:
— Whisky Shared (@WhiskyShared) December 23, 2020
Nose: Sweet sherry, tannic dryness, some cider vinegar#thewhiskeychaps
#thewhiskeychaps 105N Needs lots of time! Getting the sweet almond, its still fresh though with the pear but the red fruit comes through so much better than the other core range bottles.
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
It’s definitely developing into more cereal/grain notes, icing sugar and some perfumed notes again. #thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate -Loads of ABV, very very fruity, red berries, syrupy mouthfeel, floral, cut grass, perfume, cereals, nuts too, but so fruity for me.
#thewhiskeychaps 105P You get the sweet grain, the pear the apple, some sort of tiny smoke whisp. Stewed strawberry and raspberry, icing sugar, then the marzipan. Its Christmas cake in a bottle!
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
GF 105
— Whisky Shared (@WhiskyShared) December 23, 2020
Palate: Viscous, heat, sweet sherry, mince pies, Christmas pudding, tropical fruit#thewhiskeychaps
Ahhh @StillSurreal i’m just getting bags of tobacco now! It’s just emerged as it opens up #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
GF105 palate continued: Great depth, plenty of blackberries and plum, mixed with some chocolate and icing sugar, really good dram, really good. #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
Finish – Long now, very spicy too, dark chocolate, ginger, cinnamon, figs, dates, clove, and it gets hotter too.
So, the @SouthportWhisky bottling aside:
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) December 23, 2020
10yo £33
15yo £46
21yo £93
25 £125
105 £45
I’d go for the 105 every time I think, for value #thewhiskeychaps
You can normally pick up a litre of 105 at auction for 45quid.
— whiskyrover/mike (@whiskyrover) December 23, 2020
15 for me, despite being able to get a little of the 105 quite often for under 40 euro
— Robert Distilled (@RobertFifoot) December 24, 2020
Watching closely. I’d go 105 for price/value, 21 for luxury, 25 was more like brandy to me. Fantastic brandy that is. 21 is a sweet spot for my palate.
— Bog Standard Dram (@bogstandarddram) December 23, 2020
Overall – The 105 is an incredible dram, 60% ABV, full of flavour and all at a very reasonable price, it’s a tough one to beat in my humble opinion.
Glenfarclas 11yr old, Southport Whisky Club bottling, 48.4% ABV.
Appearance – This is a damp straw colour, it beads up on the swirl line, and has syrupy thick legs.
Nose – The ABV seems higher again, there’s more menthol here than the others, there’s a sweetness like bubble gum, tropical fruits/ stoned fruits, the BBQ meat note is still here, all of the dna notes are still here tbh, the nuttiness has gone though.
It really does, that’s quite surprising 🤷♂️#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) December 23, 2020
Palate – Southport P – Pretty good mouthfeel, spicy, chilli, dark chocolate, hot ginger and cinnamon, buttery, stoned fruits, lots of apricots for me, vanilla custard, quite a bit of wood with this one too, nice after most of the others lacked it. I’ve just remembers cardamom, it’s also quite herbaceous, but the dna is still there, I’m getting oil to and guess what? Salinity.
GF SP – I like this its meatier that the 12yo, ‘greener’ than the 105 and 15. #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
@StillSurreal is right on the vanilla, i’m getting it too, possibly pointing to some ex-bourbon… #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Finish – It’s quite long, there’s definitely some berry Jammyness hiding in there, cigar leaves, a gentle smoke, black pepper, black liquorice, anise, cardamom, it’s a super finish. And nutmeg, I’m forgetting the names of flavours, I wonder why.
theres a touch of the vanilla, salt and smoke that’s reminding me of the kilkerran whiskies #thewhiskeychaps
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
Overall – An independently bottled Glenfarclas that showcases the distillery’s flavour dna very well, and a bottle i’d definitely purchase, a great finishing dram to the whole tasting.
My thought’s on the whole tasting – It’s been a great pleasure to vertically taste 6 Glenfarclas whiskies, i certainly feel that i’ve experienced the Glenfarclas flavour profile dna, and it runs true through all 6 of these whiskies, and it’s one i really like to be honest, and i’d happily sit with a drop of any of these, super stuff indeed.
#thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/dVVgttODTC
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps All the warehouse doors are red, you may have seen the design on some of the special edition 30 and 40 year old bottles. I cant bring myself to buy though, the abv is just to low. pic.twitter.com/xfgFq6eNCt
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
in that red door that’s where they are storing a very small number of barrels #thewhiskeychaps pic.twitter.com/zro4Xl7ibr
— Gareth Jenkins (@jenkaloid) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps I will be back one day… pic.twitter.com/UqND6ygiEl
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps This is where your tastings are done, the ships room – look at that wood paneling! Everything from the room is from a ship, they tell you all about it when you do. pic.twitter.com/ZyuRa8l4f3
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps All GF (Even distillery exclusives) goes to Broxburn Bottlers in Edinburgh to be bottled. Not much to see there. Glengoyne does the same, thus why there was a VERY hard to find malt blend combining the two. Manged to get one at auction years ago. pic.twitter.com/bcyVE9sImi
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
#thewhiskeychaps given to employees and friends of the Distillery pic.twitter.com/6VRcuAvOVw
— Paul (@WhiskynStuff) December 23, 2020
Thank you Paul/@WhiskynStuff for your pictures and letting us use them.
Heading picture credit – Trip Advisor.
Thanks to – @whiskeychap, @jenkaloid, @WhiskynStuff, @bogstandarddram, @RobertFifoot, @whiskyrover, @WhiskyShared.
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