Scotch Whisky Review #313 & 314: Glenfarclas Wine Cask Duo
Distillery: Glenfarclas.
Region: Speyside.
Scotch Whisky Review #313: Glenfarclas 27 Year Dundee Dell Omaha Pick Port Cask (1981)
Age: 27 Year. Distilled in 1981 and Bottled in 2008.
ABV: 53.40% Cask Strength.
Price: Many, many thanks to /u/KissMeElon for sharing this one with me!
Color: 1.6, Mahogan/Henna Notes.
Nose: It’s quite sweet. A bundle of Christmas treats comes rolling out. Gingerbread and fruitcake are the main notes with a bit of raisin to join it. Quite desserty and decadent.
Palate: Much like the nose teases, it’s a Christmas treat bonanza. A rich, juicy fruit cake is front and center. It’s joined by some oak spices and baking spiceswhich is balanced well by the richness of the cake. A lot of nutty notes come through as well, it’s a roasted nut mix with walnuts being a major component.
Finish: Long. It’s quite creamy. The gingerbread notes come through here along with slightly tart red berries.
Conclusion: This Glenfarclas is one that was bottled for the Dundee Dell in Omaha, Omaha’s spiritual home of Scotch whisky. The original owners had 138 bottles for the bar, of which some should have been around for the latest sale of the place. Unfortunately, talking to the new owner, all of them seem to have grown legs and walked off. I can see why, it’s quite a treat. From start to finish are notes of Christmas time treats. The gingerbread and fruitcake notes are a delight. The nuttiness and hints of baking spices just make this special. Thanks to /u/KissMeElon for letting me try a bit of this!
Final Score: 89.
Scotch Whisky Review #314: Glenfarclas 43 Year Cognac Casks
Age: 43 Year. Bottled in 2010.
ABV: 40.70%
Color: 1.6, Mahogan/Henna Notes.
Nose: It’s got a super funky note to it. It’s what I imagine an old French wine cellar might smell like. Slightly musty with slight note of new French oak wine casks. I didn’t want to stop nosing it.
Palate: The earthier notes that can come with a cognac matured whisky are in full force here. There’s a ton of dark earth, cigar smoke, and tobacco throughout.
Finish: Medium in length. More of the cigars and earth.
Conclusion: I couldn’t find anywhere if this Glenfarclas was merely finished in a cognac cask or if it was fully matured in one. Either way, it’s taken on a ton of influence from those casks. Gone are the more traditional Glenfarclas notes of fruit and honey. They’re replaced in full by a strong, dark earthiness. The nose is phenomenal, the bit of mustiness and French oak wine casks made both /u/KissMeElon and I imagining ourselves in an old French wine cellar. The earthy cigar notes that follow it are strong and so unique. The only whisky I’ve had that has a similar profile is this PM Spirits Arran which was finished in a cognac cask in France. Quite tasty, though quite unlike what you might expect from Glenfarclas.
Final Score: 86.
Scotch Whisky Review #313 & 314, Speyside Review #117 & 118, Whisky Network Review #455 &456
Scoring Legend:
- 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
- 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
- 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
- 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
- 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
- 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
- 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
- Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.
Scotch & Sheen 
