Glenfarclas 21 Year Old

Although I’ve never met a Glenfarclas I didn’t like, I find the 21 yo to be the most flavorful and best balanced of those I’ve tried, as well as the most characteristically “’farclas” of them all. It’s also the favorite of Glenfarclas Brand Ambassador George Grant, so even The Man Himself must regard this as an excellent representation of the distillery’s profile. (The distillery, founded in 1836, has been in the hands of the Grant family since 1865, not long after Rickey Henderson stole his first base.)

There’s nothing unexpected here—it’s mostly the usual suspects of malt, caramel, vanilla, and sherry—but its classic flavors are exceptionally clean and articulate. This one screams “Speyside!” from nose through finish, even as it says “Highland Malt” on the label, which is why I usually avoid stereotyping Scotch whiskies by region. Review based on my fifth dram from a bottle opened about three weeks.

Nose: Let it sit for a few minutes to get rid of the dusty notes. The expected aromas (see above) arrive soon after, thick and dense. The sweetness underscores everything as some soft medicinal and minty notes emerge. Oak wood and cinnamon after several more minutes. A rich, ever-evolving nose.

Palate: Seems a bit bitter and oaky on the arrival, but it soon develops into something equally malty and peppery. More sherry and some butterscotch as it sits. A slight shortcoming is that as the flavors become more intense, so too does the waxy consistency that somewhat overwhelms the flavors. I suspect that upping the ABV to at least 46% would help develop the flavors and diminish the texture.

The finish is of only medium length but packed with flavors. Malt, vanilla, honey, sherry, as expected, along with cashews, lemons, oak, a peppercorn medley, and a final fadeout of chocolate mint.

Another 30 seconds on the finish and another 3% ABV might elevate Glenfarclas 21 to near-perfection. As it is, it’s merely damn good. A must-try if you enjoy anything in the Glenfarclas range.

Find where to buy Glenfarclas whisky