Glenfarclas, 15-year-old, Speyside, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (46%)
Critics reviews
Earthy. Autumnal. Rain on the forest floor. A smoky peat fire somewhere in the distance.
Palate
Big, firm, cereal-grain nuttiness. Develops a lot of sweetness, then a balance of floweriness.
Finish
Intense. Honey, shrubs and reeds. Mustardy.
Comment
Judging from the colour, as well as aroma and flavour, this is Glenfarclas without its dressing of sherry. Having removed its jacket and necktie, it appears more muscular and aggressive.
Michael Jackson - Whisky Magazine Issue 28 Nose
Very pale. Touch of flowers, baked banana and some leather (pigskin). Seems immature.
Palate
Starts dry. The mid-palate is very concentrated with a dry nuttiness. Pretty tight.
Finish
Crisp.
Comment
Another that seems too young. Pent-up energy but no integration. Not the Glenfarclas 15 I know.
Dave Broom - Whisky Magazine Issue 28
About this SPIRIT
Glenfarclas Distillery, Speyside
Glenfarclas can trace its history back to 1836, when tenant farmer Robert Hay founded the distillery on the Rechlerich Farm, on the Ballindalloch Estate in Banffshire. In 1865 John Grant bought the distillery for the princely some of £511.19s.0d, when he signed the tenancy agreement for the farm. The distillery is still in the Grant family and the present John Grant is the 5th generation of the family to run the property.
Glenfarclas is a classic Speyside with notes of sweet fruit and spice and a touch of peat in the older bottlings.
Speyside Whisky
To some Speyside represents the jewel in whisky’s crown. Speyside is the home of legal whisky production and it’s best known examples. Around the world Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas typify all that whisky, at it’s best has to offer. At it’s heart running from the Monadhliath mountains north to the sea, is the River Spey. It is the fastest flowing river in Britain, and also well known for its salmon fishing.
Speyside is the principal whisky-producing region: Speyside has within it some forty-six operating distilleries - over half the total number in the entire Scotland.
Speysides are essentially sweet whiskies. They have little peaty character They are typically highly perfumed, feminine and elegant.
The classical nature of Speyside’s malts means that a number of the finest malts are used almost exclusively for blending. It is the top Speysider’s that give good blends their ‘Top Dressing’.
Malts such as Mortlach, Glen Elgin, Strathmill and Benrinnes are rarely found as distillery bottlings, however when individual casks are tracked down by independent bottlers such as our Own Selection Single Malt Whiskies the resultant whisky can be quite wonderful.
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Description
A delicious example from an unerringly excellent distillery, Glenfarclas 15yo has been one of my go-to Speyside drams for many years. This is liquid fruit-cake, showing lovely spice, nuts and a wealth of dried fruits. The vibrancy of youth is matched by the developing complexity of a decade-and-a-half in top quality oak.
Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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