Glenfarclas 175th Anniversary

The distillery celebrated its 175th birthday in 2011 and released a special bottle for the occassion, a vatting of 18 different sherry casks, three from each decennium that could still be found in the warehouses, including their oldest cask #1711 from 1952! You will understand this bottle has no age statement.

The nose is very layered. It appears that the young and old casks do not interfere with each other, but play together harmoniously. Fresh cherries and blackberries walk hand in hand with the old leather, figs, dried plums and mild spices. A drop of wine vinegar is easily overpowered by vanilla, honey, candid sugar and heather. Very waxy. It has some notes of a dusty attic. And a wonderful hint of woodsmoke. The whole is harmonious and accessible.

It is creamy and silky soft on the palate. Cinnamon and black pepper make it rather picquant, but it soon turns seductively sweet: blood oranges and dark chocolate. But it does not show ‘deep sherry’, which I find somewhat disappointing.

The finish is medium in length, starts on a fresh touch of mint, but then turns dry.

This is a good whisky, by every means, but it did not become a sherry monster. Around 100 EUR.

Find where to buy Glenfarclas whisky