A wonderfully sherried 15 year old dram from Glenfarclas, boasting oodles of dried fruit notes. It’s bottled at 46% ABV simply because this was the strength that George Grant’s grandfather preferred it at. Happily, this also results in the Speysider boasting a big, juicy, Christmas cake profile. A fabulously complex Scotch while also being easily drinkable.
Intense, powerful sherry. Cream sherry, certainly – Pedro Ximenez? almost… a touch of peppermint? An almost rancio quality to this. Smells older than 15.
Raisins, more sherry, orange peel, walnuts, dates.
Incredibly long, complex, more of the walnuts again.
Water draws out sweetness. This is Christmas cake, not whisky. Simply astonishing.
An absolute bargain at £50. My fav whisky pound for pound was the Glendronach 15 when it was ~£50 but now this has taken the lead. One everyone could love. May need to explore more Glenfarclas...
Nose; butterscotch pudding, marmalade waterfall, crisp, green hay on a rainy day. one of the best nose ever! Taste; pumpkin pie, cold medicine, cucumber spice. Finnish; mouth watering lingering with sherry scent and berry bush. A true masterpiece of expression in a 15 year old dram. I would not be surprised to learn of significant age of and quality of the buts that this hails from. Like finding a needle in a haystack. Truly Epic!
Nose; butterscotch pudding, marmalade waterfall, crisp, green hay on a rainy day. one of the best nose ever! Taste; pumpkin pie, cold medicine, cucumber spice. Finnish; mouth watering lingering with sherry scent and berry bush. A true masterpiece of expression in a 15 year old dram. I would not be surprised to learn of significant age of and quality of the buts that this hails from. Like finding a needle in a haystack. Truly Epic!
A lot has been said about this whisky. All I can add is whisky simply doesn't get better at this price point. Amazing dram with a good glug of water. Rich and satisfying. I find Glenfarclas 15 somehow makes you feel refreshed after drinking it. Strange but it honestly does. Just buy a bottle and enjoy it with friends. Slàinte Rob, Somerset
Nose neat: creamy pedro ximinez, orange pine kernel? Vanilla, sour lemon drops. After time in the glass, malty, bready, sweet, ripe banana, pear, strawberry sweets, subtle tobacco smoke, raisin, black bun, Christmas cake, creamy, cough syrup, sherry, more malt, peppermint? (22/25) Taste Neat: sweet, fruit basket, spicy, peppery. (19/25) Nose with water: Sweet bread, slight bite, pedro ximenez, sour fruit, sour dough? Lemon oil, aromatic, herbaceous, lemon curd? sugary sweeties, like rock, hints of juniper and eucalyptus. Toasty oak, wood cured ham, roasted spice like Nutmeg, more creamy sherry. (23/25) Taste with water: creamy and lemon sweet arrival, raisin, definitely sour dough, sour lime, clear bourbon flavours of vanilla and American oak. bitter-sweet. Spicy and slightly nutty finish that is toasty and oaky. (23/25) Presentation point: (1/1) Conclusion: About a BIG arrival when neat. Very sherried, but water brings out the real bourbon influence, reminiscent of bulleit rye. Sweet when neat, but very astringent and complex with a good water helping. This "sherry bomb" is about more than just sherry. It does seem that most of the higher quality casks may be bourbon, and that the bourbon part of this whisky is older than 15 years. Points: (88/101)
