Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength

Tasted without knowing the brand. Light golden color, with many thin legs and very slow drips. Aroma: Damp wood, caramel malt, a funky butterscotch, earthy blue agave, and boozy bread pudding. Taste: It hits hot and fast – there's a stinging, nearly burning heat. The flavors are all turned up to 11, with butterscotch, hay, and clover honey, oak and cardamom, white pepper, maybe even cayenne. There's a bit of astringent varnish, possibly some sauternes as well. With Water: Adding a drop doesn't really change the palate. More malt and spice come through than ever, and the rough edges soften, but no new discoveries. My guess would be Speyside or Highland, in a bourbon cask and/or French oak limousine. Aged over 18 years and 55-60% ABV. I could be completely wrong, and this is 6-12 years, just NCF and barrel proof, but I suspect relatively unused wood casks. Glenfiddich on steroids? I'm not really sure what this is. So much wood spice, yet so much malt sweetness, but it's funky. Reveal - Glenfarclas 105. Well, that wasn't what I expected. The butterscotch is somewhat extreme in this expression, and the raisin and earthy notes of the 25 are largely absent in comparison. It's like looking at my high school self and comparing him to my current self and having no idea how the two could be related. As much as I love the 25, I think this is one I would likely pass on. This one certainly delivers on the proof (which I learned is actually closer to 120 American proof, makes sense now). The burn punishes more than a 120 proof Knob Creek but less than a Booker's or Maker's CS. There are just more flavorful options out there with less heat, especially in the scotch world. Definitely an interesting try, thanks to a friend, and I would recommend that everyone try it at least once, but don't be mistaken – this is not an amped-up, older Glenfarclas expression, but a different beast entirely.

This is my favorite Glenfarclas to date. I've only tried the 12 and 21 besides this one, but the 12 was too malt-heavy for my preference, and the 21 felt a bit thin and empty for its age. This one, however, has character. On the nose, the first impression is a fresh honey-covered raspberry sweetness, quickly followed by Glenfarclas's signature toasted malt character, derived from direct-fired stills. If you're wondering which flavors come from the spirit and which from the casks, this is a good bottle to start understanding it, as this toasted caramelized malt character is quite prominent, distinct, and fairly easy to identify, and you'll recognize it comes from the spirit, not the casks. Soon after, I detected a very strong perfume note, almost like lightly sweet rose. The palate is largely a translation of the nose, with dark honey and raspberries, a hint of sultana (if you don't know what it is, buy some dried sultana snacks, as this flavor appears in many malts), including some charred vanilla. The toasted flavors become very lively in the finish with mild bitter oak tannins and red fruit skins. The reason they say Glenfarclas accommodates sherry cask maturation is, I believe, due to these toasted-caramelized-roasted malt flavors, which lend a very nice depth to the sherry influence, making it not just another ordinary sherried whisky. Definitely worth a second and third tasting. For its price, I'd say this is a good bottle, but if you're willing to spend a bit more, I'd suggest the Aberlour A'bunadh. But don't just take my word for it. Try them both!

Opened 2.5 months ago. Nose - Overpoweringly sweet dark honey, tannic and dry red wine, figs, raisins, stewed dark fruits, scented candles, pine resin, bright esters, and moderately strong ethanol. Palate - Rich sherry bomb, honey, molasses, cereal malt, raisins, figs, stewed dark fruits, more dry than sweet and syrupy, chalk and mineral water, with a dry ethanol bite and sherry on the mid-palate. The finish is long, with drier sherry and oak tannin notes dominating, waxy, raisins, light cocoa, baking spices, sharp grain and malt, and spicy ethanol on the back end. The dryness, chalky waxiness, and sharp notes are why I rate it slightly lower. I bought this as a Christmas gift for my brother but took a 4 oz sample for myself to enjoy later. It's difficult to find a wide selection of cask strength Scotch, particularly unpeated varieties, in NC. I visited a remote ABC store in the mountains known for its eclectic offerings and found this. It was solitary, covered in dust, and likely one of the last Glenfarclas 105 bottles in NC, as Glenfarclas products haven't been listed on the ABC website for a while. It met all my expectations and serves as a fantastic alternative to Aberlour A'bunadh, which I already had. I don't believe it's as well-rounded as the Aberlour. The Glenfarclas has slightly more ethanol bite and sharp, bright edges. However, it's also $20 cheaper, which is a definite plus. I don't understand the average reviews for this either. My assumption is that many come from drinkers primarily focused on Scotch who find the proof overwhelming. As an enthusiast of cask strength bourbon and rye, this hits the perfect spot.

Glenfarclas 105, 60% ABV, No Age Statement This is a cask strength Glenfarclas that packs a punch. It's essentially a cask strength sherry bomb, distinct from Aberlour. After some time, it becomes surprisingly drinkable at cask strength, though initially, the alcohol is quite prominent. This one benefits from time and water, but the effort is rewarding. After resting, the alcohol burn fades, revealing typical sherry bomb aromas: dried red fruits, cranberry, orchard fruits, apple, pear, and sweet cherries. The taste (neat) offers bitter red fruits, cranberry, and vanilla. With water, darker/drier red fruits emerge, along with figs, dates, raisins, apple, pear, and bitter orange peel. The finish is long, sweet, with vanilla, baked apple, spice, and burnt sugar that turns bitter. Both the nose and palate neat start subtly, but adding water helps overcome the alcohol and truly unveils the expected sherry bomb characteristics. I appreciate the transformation this whisky undergoes over time. These bottles are not inexpensive, but I was fortunate to acquire a few from auction sites for around $70 total. I haven't seen them on shelves near me for less than $80, often closer to $100. Even at $100, it's likely worth considering given today's whisky prices. Overall Score: A

On the nose, tart apple, apple cider vinegar, raisin, sulfur, alcohol, and a bit funky in an interesting way. The palate presents somewhat similar slightly clashing notes. There's the apple and alcohol, then some rich malty and sherry notes in the middle, leading to a somewhat harsh finish. I suspect this will be approachable with a little water, but it might take some trial and error to find the right amount. I added a bit to test. The nose remained intriguing, and the palate definitely improved with less harshness and more of the sherry richness showing through. It now comes across more like a typical sherry bomb. This is an interesting dram, and I'm somewhat undecided about it. It's intriguing and has some truly pleasant flavors, mixed with a bit of harshness and funk. Overall, it's something I wouldn't mind purchasing to explore further, especially if the price is right. Thanks to a friend for the sample!

I'm definitely detecting popcorn... it has an almost medicinal quality on the nose. The palate is an intense Christmas cake that transforms into peach yogurt. The finish is creamy popcorn flan. There's a lot going on here; I won't be able to fully explore it with just 3cl. Adding a significant amount of water... The nose becomes more medicinal and floral. The palate is sweet apple and pear pudding with a flaky biscuit crust. The finish is smoother, and vanilla emerges among the grass and flowers. I admire the Glenfarclas 15, but this is entirely different. It reminds me of a "Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair". I transferred some full-strength whisky to a tumbler glass instead of the Glencairn. Roasted nuts on the nose. The palate still has warm fruits and cream. The finish is intense and long, with lingering pepper, fruit, and milk chocolate. This is a substantial whisky, one that is challenging to fully analyze. However, its depth offers considerable room for exploration.