Tag: Glenfarclas | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

October 12, 2016October 12, 2016

Tasting: William Cadenhead 40yo Single Speyside Malt (Review #200)

Dram data:
Distillery: undisclosed (see below…)
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1970s
Bottled: 09.12.2015
Age: 40 (stated; actually 43yo*)
Limitation: –
Casks: ex-bourbon (my impression)
Alcohol: 40,2%
Unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Unless I’ve lost the ability to count, this is whisky review #200 – time for a small celebration! How about… oh, a 40yo “undisclosed” Single Speyside malt by William Cadenhead’s? Only they could be so cool as to print the completely unrelated letter combination “Glenfarclas” just above the bottling number. No, I’m sure these letters don’t mean anything to anybody… I love you guys up there in Campbeltown!

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
40,2% ABV – this better not be weak on the nose! Ah…. no! Oh! Ah! Properly aged whisky from a refill ex-bourbon cask, that’s a style I love! Golden honey with a bit of beeswax, majestic oak jam cupboard (just the right amount of oak) with a leather jacket and garden herbs for drying hanging from a hook on the side, sweet summer sunset in an orchard captured in a glass, tropical fruits (dried mangos and papayas ), condensed orange juice, slightly vanilla-flavoured Virginia pipe tobacco (non-vulgar vanilla!), ah, what a lovely, dense yet still elegant and fragrant mixture. Just the dram to pour those “age doesn’t matter” folks, that’ll teach ’em! Continue reading “Tasting: William Cadenhead 40yo Single Speyside Malt (Review #200)”

July 29, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenfarclas 15yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2013 – L04 06 13
Age: 15 years
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: red-gold
The nose starts off as a mixture of oloroso sherry, a strong note of citrus peel and -juice and a whiff of smoke (no more than 5 ppm) in the background. Burnt caramel and cocoa / dark chocolate (a result of the direct-fired stills?) and a subdued puree of dark, dried fruits (figs, dates, plums) with a few brazil nuts thrown into the mix. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 15yo”

July 26, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenfarclas 2001 13y for Whisky Circle Pinzgau

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: bottled for Whisky Circle Pinzgau
Distilled: 18.10.2001
Bottled: 26.01.2015
Age: 13 years
Limitation: – (shared cask)
Casks: Oloroso Sherry Cask
Alcohol: 51,5%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
The nose starts off dark and mysterious. Wood honey, thick sherry, roasted cocoa beans, dried figs and dates, raisins, roasted walnuts, the faintest whiff of smoke, and a mixture of spices – cloves and wet cinnamon. The (slight!) smoky and spicy notes also remind me strongly of the classic Glenfarclas 15 – it’s rare to find the distillery character, some of which I’m guessing stems from the direct-fired stills, so clearly defined in an independent bottling. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 2001 13y for Whisky Circle Pinzgau”

May 31, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenfarclas 14y 1999-2014 for Kirchhellener Private Tasting Circle

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: Official (private) bottling
Distilled: 1999
Bottled: 2014
Age: 14 years
Limitation: 536 bottles
Casks: Refill Sherry Casks 7072 + 7080
Alcohol: 59,9%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light amber
The nose is immediately and undeniably influenced by the (refill) ex-sherry cask, more precisely the spicy influence of refill european oak. Oranges, orange zest, green grapes, grape and citrus fruit kernel bitterness, fresh ginger, fizzy orange soda, cough lozenges, star anise, tinned exotic fruits (without the sweetness), dark fruits in the background.
Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 14y 1999-2014 for Kirchhellener Private Tasting Circle”

June 20, 2014July 5, 2017

Tasting: Glenfarclas 25

Dram data:

Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 17.03.2009 (lot-nr 314:30BB)
Age: 25 years
Limitation: unknown
Price at the time of purchasing: 85€
Casks: Ex-Sherry
Alcohol: 43%
Most likely chill filtered & natural color
Whiskybase link

(Blind) Tasting notes:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Fresh and fruity. Wild berries, lemon and orange zest, orange juice, canned tangerines, peaches, honey, slight background maltiness. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 25”