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Glenfarclas 21 Year Old

A complete and mature speyside malt

0 689

@jdcookReview by @jdcook

10th Mar 2010

0

Glenfarclas 21 Year Old
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    89

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

When I purchased my Glenfarclas 15 year old (based on the reviews from people on this site), it came with two small tasters of the GLenfarclas 21 year old and the 25 year old). Tonight I decided to get out the 21 year old.

The nose is nutty and buttery - really meaty and savoury and rich. After several sniffs and a bit of time warming in my hand, it opens up a little bit with subtler dried fruit notes, a hint of sherry, some caramel and an undertone of peat. Fantastic!

First taste is chewy, rich and lively! Not terribly complex, made up of malt, sherry, a bare touch of caramel and smoky nudge, but mouth-watering and moreish.

The finish is a long warm wave that builds for several seconds but never becomes hot, just comfortably warm. The smoke is there, and as the warmth builds, the peat note from the nose re-emerges. Sherry and hints of caramel slowly fade over several minutes.

This feels like a really complete, mature speyside malt. It doesn't try to knock your socks off, but boy is this both fantastic and easy to drink. I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you are worried that jumping form speysiders to drams like the Talisker 10 year old are maybe a step too far. It's not quite a 9, but it is close!

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6 comments

@jdcook
jdcook commented

As I get closer to the bottom of the glass, I find myself thinking this really is a 9. Definitely worth a second glass!

14 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

...and when I say I purchased the Glenfarclas 15 year old, I really mean my wife bought it for me as part of my Xmas present.

14 years ago 0

@BonnieMac
BonnieMac commented

Hey jdcook: I also have the 15 yo, with the pocket-sized 21yo and 25yo set that you have reviewed here. I was surprised how tasty all three are! (I sometimes think 'gift set' means...eh - have to give things away to get someone to buy it.)

I think the 21yo is soooo nice - probably my favorite of the three...and to not sound like a "yes-man (-woman?)" I'm in agreement about raising the rating to a 9. I have to say the marketing tactic of throwing the two sipping bottles in got me! The sherry smoke is loverly. I am going to order the 21yo!

14 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

@BonnieMac - It is a very cool marketing ploy to hand out the small tasting bottles with the 15. I went and had the 15 year old after the 21 last night, and they are both fantastic, but I found the 15 year old a bit punchier (it's a little bit less mature and smooth), and I must admit I enjoyed that, so that was the 1 percenter that made the difference for me. But yes, the sherry smoke in this one is probably the defining feature, and it is fantastic!

I'll be throwing up a review of the 25 year old in the next day or so.

14 years ago 0

@LeFrog
LeFrog commented

Looking forward to the review of the 25 y/o

14 years ago 0

@jdcook
jdcook commented

@LeFrog - I'm looking forward to drinking it... :)

14 years ago 0