Glenfarclas 16 yr SMWS 1.194
Mashtun notes:
Glenfarclas usually comes from a sherried cask so were very intrigued to try this first fill Bourbon cask whisky. Initially the familiar ‘Glenfarclas nose’ almost fools you into thinking it is from a sherry cask. It then develops into butterscotch vanilla, caramelised pears, pine needles, malted barley, and bourbon. The palate retains the bourbon and vanilla notes of the nose but also has chilli and toffee combined with the signature Glenfarclas feel you’d expect. The finish is medium in length with hints of mulled wine, bourbon, and sweet menthol notes at the end. It’s also a slightly dry finish in places. The colour is golden and the texture is thick, velvety, and smooth. Letting this dram breathe slightly mellows the nose and a little water brings out grainy notes on the nose and hints of liquorice on the finish. Be careful though, as even at 60.6% this is easily drowned. It doesn’t taste or nose like a whisky of that strength and that’s testament to the quality of spirit and maturation.
We always assumed that sherry gave Glenfarclas its signature flavours but clearly this isn’t the case. This is a very interesting whisky and a nice variation of the Glenfarclas flavour profile. It’s strong, pronounced, and full of itself - we loved it!
Glenfarclas 16 yr SMWS 1.194
Attractive, rounded and comforting.
The nose has toffee, lots of orange, popcorn, honey, blackcurrant and some leather and polished wood. The palate is seductively sweet, tropical, juicy, and fruity – orange fondants, marmalade, Battenberg, Werther’s Originals, dark chocolate orange and varying warming spices
Notes: 60.6% ABV – 1st fill Ex Bourbon. Distilled April 1999 and 211 bottles produced. Around £70 per bottle at time of tasting.
Glenfarclas 16 yr SMWS 1.194
Nose:
So sweet that the Glenfarclas almost fools you into thinking it’s a sherry. It has butter scotch, vanilla, oak, bourbon, and sawdust
Palate:
Vanilla, oak, bourbon, grain, butterscotch, and that classic ‘Glenfarclas’ feel you would expect
Finish:
Medium and bourbon with menthol notes at the end
Colour:
Golden
Texture:
Thick
Air:
Mellows nose
Water:
Brings out liquorice on the finish
Overall comments:
I always thought sherry gave Glenfarclas its signature flavour but it also shines through in this first fill bourbon cask! It’s strong, pronounced, and full of itself – and I like that!
Glenfarclas 16 yr SMWS 1.194
Nose:
Blackcurrants, pine nuts, powerful bourbon notes
Palate:
More bourbon, chilli, toffee, black tea, slightly perfumed
Finish:
Long finish: mulled wine and beef stew
Colour:
Yellow-amber
Texture:
Smooth and velvety
Air:
Not a lot
Water:
Needs some water but tread carefully: easily-drowned
Overall comments:
I really enjoyed this, a nice variation of the familiar Glenfarclas flavour profile.
Glenfarclas 16 yr SMWS 1.194
Nose:
Sweet caramelised pears, warm buttery fudge, pine needles, and malted barley
Palate:
Instant Glenfarclas on the palate but with a bourbon finish
Finish:
Tanny and dry but long and sweet at the end
Colour:
Golden
Texture:
Thick and oily
Air:
Not a lot as it didn’t last that long
Water:
Brings out grainy notes on the nose
Overall comments:
A very interesting Glenfarclas that changes their usual mould!
