Glenfarclas 22yr old 105 CS

Gathering at The Oak Barrel in Sydney on July 4, 2019, for a Glenfarclas tasting event. Whisky #6. Nose: Delightful fruity and cereal scents blended with gentle sherry notes. Smells of toasted muesli, honeysuckle, Jersey caramels, fresh brioche, a floral bouquet (!), toasted almonds, vanilla cupcakes, orange blossom water, raisins, dates, candied cherries, sultanas, dried figs, a soft, sweet sherry aroma, gold rum, and some subtle exotic spices. There's a restrained oak presence, more like beeswax-polished wood than a spirit cask, or perhaps a hint of sandalwood incense, with absolutely no detectable alcohol. Smelling this reminded me of my grandmother's kitchen while she was baking Christmas puddings. Palate: A sweet, rich, honeyed, and nutty initial taste. As it develops, notes of orchard and tropical fruits appear, along with crème fraîche drizzled with leatherwood honey, cinnamon and mild ginger powder, mint, cooked oatmeal, toasted sesame seeds, and butter. Adding water remarkably enhances this dram, unlocking a wealth of unusual spicy notes. It gains fragrant flowers and Keemun tea, allspice, turmeric, orange marmalade, fennel and caraway seeds, alongside fig jam and quince paste. The texture starts creamy but becomes viscous and oily with water. Finish: Extended. The immense complexity of the palate fades into a multi-layered sweet and savory aftertaste. An excellent whisky that possesses the bold character of the standard 105, but instead of focusing on intense dark aromas and flavors, it highlights light cereal and fruit notes. It's actually better to consider this simply as "Glenfarclas 22" and disregard the 105 comparison, as they are entirely dissimilar in profile. This is an elegant, mature whisky presented at 60% ABV. The palate is highly complex and expansive, with an almost indefinable 'strong subtlety' in its profile. The influence of the cask is superb, and it carries that hint of sandalwood found in the 17-year-old, and to a lesser extent in the 25-year-old, but not so much in the 105. Most surprisingly, the high alcohol content is virtually undetectable on either the nose or palate. This is truly a cask-strength spirit that can be savored neat without any harshness, though I strongly recommend adding a good splash of water, as it transforms the palate into something truly exquisite. It's an excellent spirit, offering good value for its price. Highly recommended if you can locate it. I would have purchased a bottle that evening, but unfortunately, stock was very limited, and I wasn't quick enough. 'Excellent': 88/100 (4.5 stars)

Taste - (without water) Intense dark apple cider, hints of richly barrel-aged apple-cherry cider, dark syrup, dark chocolate, cinnamon. The heat increases with subsequent sips. Raisin/nutty sherry notes. (with water) The heat is reduced, making it more vibrant and bright. Heat appears much later. Dark apple cider, a hint of orange zest, raisin-spiced cinnamon red hots. Finish - (without water) Lingering heat, bitter dark chocolate, hints of dark syrupy but not overly sweet raisins. (with water) Pretty much the same. Score - 82/100 Final Thoughts - I have very conflicted feelings about this one. The initial nose without water was very unique with hints of cherry candies, but this didn't really translate to the palate, where it was more of a traditional dark, raisin-like sherry profile mixed with unsweetened cocoa that significantly reduced the sweetness. Adding a bit of water brought out some orange notes, but it seemed like dehydrated orange slices dipped in unsweetened dark chocolate. It wasn't bad, but it felt like a very confused Scotch. It nosed like it wanted to be a dessert whisky, but hit the palate like a candy maker who forgot to add sugar to their chocolate. It definitely had the nose and mouthfeel of an older Scotch, but just felt a bit off. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.