Some petits Glenfarclas


July 1, 2024

Some petits Glenfarclas

Ronald Zwartepoorte for Glenfarclas (Netherlands, circa 2008)

Speyside 7 yo (46%, The Whisky Shop, A Dram to Share, 10cl, 2024)

Sometimes, one does odd things. I bought this wee dram in a Whisky Shop in the north of Scotland for the price of a sandwich. I wasn’t hungry. They told me it was Glenfarclas. I couldn't find any information about this baby on the net, but that’s no bother at all. Colour: white wine. Nose: fresh and malty, very much on slightly ripe apples, with just a hint of smoke and a touch of rubber (new wellingtons). I’m not sure if it’s indeed Glenfarclas, but it certainly seems like it. It's rare to taste it in this state (very young and without any sherry at all). Mouth: malty, fine, on vanilla and scones, milk chocolate and white chocolate, chicory, Ovomaltine/Ovaltine, roasted peanuts, and ale... I quite like it. Surely, it must exist in bottles, no? Finish: long, this time on nougat and roasted hazelnuts. A drop of stout. Comments: jolly good. I thank the chap from the Whisky Shop in Inverness for his excellent recommendation (and for not treating me like a tourist!)
SGP:551 - 86 points.

Glenlitigious 12 yo 2012/2024 (53%, Whisky Sponge, 1st fill barrel & 1st fill sherry hogshead, 215 bottles)

The phrase 'We have finished their whisky, and you can too' on the label leaves no doubt for those who appreciate old adverts for Scottish whiskies. It references that extraordinary Glenfarclas line, 'We don't need to finish our whiskies, but you can.' Back then, finishing was seen as a vulgar trickery used only by third-rate brands. Nowadays, second-rate brands have also jumped on the bandwagon. Colour: full gold. Nose: spot on. Loads of roasted peanuts, cedarwood, grilled chestnuts, raisin rolls, a touch of earthiness, and those liquid concoctions from Starbucks... With water: shoe polish emerges, which is also typical. Mouth (neat): excellent, with pronounced exotic wood, hazelnut-flavoured coffee (from the aforementioned brand), more Ovomaltine, toffees, hints of parsley, liquorice, and menthol... It’s a lovely beast, reminding me of the official releases of the 1989 or 1990 vintages. Finish: long, mingling chocolate, roasted chestnuts, earth, marmalade, and mint. Comments: it’s rare for an independent bottling to resemble official versions so closely.
SGP:562 - 88 points.

Of course, we go on with an OB…

Glenfarclas '180th Anniversary' (59.7%, OB, Taiwan exclusive, 2016)

The 175th Anniversary at 43% vol. had been excellent, and the 185th Anniversary at 46% too, but it looks like we’ve never tried this 180th, bottled for Taiwan. We do expect quite a bit of sherry, although modern Taiwanese enthusiasts seem to have much broader tastes. Colour: full gold. Nose: strange. Much shoe polish and old floorcloth, meats, stale teas... I suppose water is obligatory. With water: it's better, but these notes of burnt wood and extinguished cigars work only moderately well, in my humble opinion. Mouth (neat): much better than on the nose! Walnut and hazelnut liqueur, thick molasses, treacle toffee, roasted malt... With water: sardines, really? Where does that salty note come from? Chinese noodle soup with beef, teriyaki... It's quite surprising, but it grows on you. The wood becomes a bit too prominent, however. Finish: long, with chili coming out of the wood, paprika, coffee... Comments: it’s very good but I’m not a perpetual fan of this rather spicy GF. It's a bit of a 'fusion' malt between Chinese and European tastes. In theory, that could become totally brilliant. In theory.
SGP:571 - 83 points.

Check the index of all Glenfarclas we've tasted so far