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Зрелый, фруктово-сладкий Гленфарклас на уставших бочках повторной заливки: почти без хересного характера, ближе к бурбону. Опытные разошлись — от разочарования истощёнными бочками до восторга типичным профилем.
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В аромате — светлые свежие фрукты (груша, яблоко, персик), мёд, ваниль, выпечка, травы и пряности, с ощутимыми дубовыми планками и лишь тонкой хересной фруктовостью (изюм, курага); часть авторов отмечает восковую, местами пыльную и сухую древесную ноту, изредка лёгкую серу и даже неожиданный дымный оттенок. Вкус сливочно-сладкий (карамель, тоффе, орех, тропические фрукты у некоторых), но с заметной сухой дубовой танинностью, перечностью и горчинкой грецкого ореха; послевкусие в основном среднее, восковое, с мёдом и какао, у критиков — короткое и невыразительное. Хвалят зрелость, мягкость для почтенного возраста, баланс и питкость; критикуют слабое влияние бочек, чрезмерный сухой дуб, горечь и завышенную цену.
Главное расхождение проходит именно среди опытных: часть резко указывает, что бочки повторной заливки были истощены ещё при заливке, отсюда тонкий, пустоватый спирт, недостойный 30-летнего Гленфаркласа (оценки 84–86), тогда как другие столь же авторитетные ценят «фирменный» дубово-сладкий профиль и ставят 88–89. Почти все сходятся в одном: это не хересная бомба и херес едва читается — напиток напоминает выдержку в бурбонной бочке. Остальные ревьюеры в среднем чуть щедрее (много 88–90, единичные 92–93 и один 100), но и среди них звучит то же разочарование возрастом и горечью; согласованность умеренная — разброс оценок отражает спор о том, компенсирует ли зрелая элегантность вклад уставшей древесины.
Modern and fruity profile, very drinkable but very close to some mainstream bottlings which is rather unfortunate for a 30yo
| Нос |
86 |
Light and fruity, fresh fruits, apples, pears, hints of vanilla, whiffs of wood, white pepper - not bad |
| Вкус |
85 |
Very creamy, mellow, subtle sweetness, fruit salad, woody, notes, spices, pepper, nutmeg, cloves, some teaish notes, black tea |
| Финиш |
84 |
Medium long, warm, probably going more into grapefruits |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
[May, 2018] Every year since 1997 the german Glenfarclas distributor releases a special bottling named after a historical scottish character and almost all of these bottlings were of high quality. So I am very curious about this year's release that matured for almost 30 years in refill sherry casks. I bought bottle no. 2921 for 150 Euro. To be honest, this is the "worst" release of this series that I tasted so far. It is easy drinkable, for sure, and better than many other drams from other distilleries - but it is way below the usual high Glenfarclas standard. Even a great spirit cannot compensate for leached casks. I am sure they never ever would have bottled this as a single malt release before the whisky boom...
| Нос |
87 |
The colour is amber and the texture shows fat sticky tears with very slow legs. The nose is rather shy on a herbal-driven refill sherry profile with floral and grassy aromas. Not really impressive, I guess these casks were already exhausted when filled back in 1988. |
| Вкус |
88 |
Again the casks did not contribute very much to the taste during the 30 years of maturation. It is thin and one has to carefully search for the flavours as they do not come across as they should in a decent dram. Do not get me wrong, the taste is pretty fine but I expect much more from a 30-years old malt whisky (not to mention Glenfarclas). |
| Финиш |
86 |
The dram arrives somewhat hot and peppery in the mouth with a nice coating effect (so the spirit was excellent, see the great texture above). The finish is rather short and of the same (exhausted) quality. Water is not helpful either which is often with releases from inactive casks - if there are no (rich) flavours and aromas what should the additional water release? |
Typical Glenfarclas nose - pure oak wood. In the taste rather spicy, sweet, old and ripe. Wonderful.
If you expect a red sherry old as in the predecessors, you should definitely get a sample first. This is not a typical OlorosoSherry Malt for me - if it were not for the easy dates, it could also be a better old bourbon barrel. I think it's delicious and drinkable. The fruit notes remind me of this https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/96695/glenfarclas-1988 But after the first dram I do not need a bottle of it for ~ 160
Refill doesn't necessarily have to be worse, and it does have some really nice aged aromas (naturally more due to subtractive than additive maturation), but the clearly worn-out casks impart an overly tannic, dry, unpleasantly "dusty", old wood note to everything, which never really disappears or can be masked.
| Нос |
84 |
Pear, sawdust, old, dried-out, slightly musty oak planks, candle wax, garden herbs, very subtle refill sherry fruitiness (perhaps apricot and a touch of raspberry?), caramel sweetness. I don't even know if I would have noticed the sherry cask maturation in a blind tasting. |
| Вкус |
85 |
Here too, the wood is immediately noticeable, very dry and, well, woody. Then, from the middle onwards, it becomes significantly more pleasant, with increasing sweetness and a delicate fruit acidity. Applesauce, caramel candy, a splash of pear cider. |
| Финиш |
84 |
Medium length at most, with a pleasantly waxy texture in the mouth, but unspectacular in taste: some acidity, honey and at most a hint of fruit. |
Beautiful fruity-sweet malt with a woody-sweet finish and only a slight sherry influence. A typical refill Glenfarclas, but of the delicious kind.
нос 89 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
a sherry malt that imitates a very mature malt from an active bourbon barrel - great value for money
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
A really great Glenfarclas! Although this filling is not the sherry and fruit bomb I expected, this edition still convinces me with its unusually dark and tart fruit note, especially the dark apple juice is impressive. Fresh peppermint and various herbs and spices are a harmonious contrast to the bitter basic note. Amazingly, there is a fine smoky note, which I find rather uncharacteristic of a Glenfarclas. A slightly different edition compared to its predecessors, but just as sexy and delicious. I like it very much!
I can accept the review of Hs305 to 99%. Only I have no sharpness or pepper but everything relatively weak. I'm also not a glenfarclass fan but this is a standard that is good drinkable. But not 30 years.
Peach!
нос 90 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 90 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
It is very complex in the nose and is not dominated by the sherry, even if its influences are already noticeable. I am particularly impressed by the recurring change from fruit to wort. On the palate, it is also good, the alcohol may be a bit too sprittig and the bitterness requires a lot from. If you do not like that, you will not be happy here. But I like it quite well and my beloved Glenfarclasnussigkeit reconciled in the end with any rough edges.
Water: no, definitely not, he is wonderfully well balanced in this strength. Conclusion: Anyone who has expected a sherry bomb will be bitterly disappointed. Everyone else is looking forward to a wonderfully mature 2nd Fill Casks malt, with a complexity found only in older malts. But sherry barrel influence is hard to find, this could have been a bourbon barrel. I like it so very well, for a top score but still lacks a bit more complexity, also the oak is a bit too strong. 88 points
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
I was disappointed by this dram, to be honest. No, it’s not bad at all but I expected much more from 30 yo whisky. The sherry profile can hardly be recognized and this expression rather reminds bourbon maturation. The palate is noticeably bitter, which I personally do not like. A regular 25 yo expression from Glenfarclas core line looks more complete and balanced and far more friendly priced in addition
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
For me this is a very pleasant, very "typical" Glenfarclas, which especially in the nose maintains a wonderfully intensive balance between the "distillery character" and the spiciness of the sherry casks. Reminds me of the 1998 Family Cask (# 3597), which is even more intense.
| Нос |
93 |
The full Glenfarclas aroma world appears: honey, some bakery, herbs (from marjoram to anise). Nice full and dense, some oak comes in from the background, just like the sherry notes. |
| Вкус |
93 |
The seasoning takes over the first impression lead: herbs, honey, some oak. The second wave is followed by sherry and very light dark fruit notes. Also looks very dense and pleasant on the palate; the age is present. |
| Финиш |
92 |
In the long finish, oak, spice and honey notes also remain. Hence the "Glenfarclas signature flavors" away from the "sherry bombs". |
Nase: Süß, Kirsche, Eiche, Gewürze, etwas Rosine, etwas dunkle Trockenfrüchte, Sägespäne, etwas Tabak, Maracuja, Mango | Geschmack: Süß, würzig, Eiche, tropisch, Vanille, Maracuja, Mango, getrocknete helle Früchte, Orange, etwas Kirsche, Aprikose, Malz | Abgang: lang; süßes Malz, helle getrocknete Früchte, Eiche und etwas getrocknete Kirsche blieben. | Fazit: Die Nase beginnt süß, mit Kirsche und ordentlich Eiche. Dazu kommen Gewürze. Etwas Rosine und etwas dunkle Trockenfrüchte. Malz und etwas Tabak kommen nun noch dazu. Nach einer Weile im Glas, wird es tropisch. Maracuja und Mango kommen dann noch. Zu Beginn hatte ich kurz einen Moment von Holzleim und am Ende hatte ich Sägespäne in der Nase. Im Geschmack beginnt es süß und würzig mit schöner Eiche. Tropische Früchte und ein Hauch Vanille kommen dazu. Maracuja, Mango, getrocknete helle Früchte und Orange folgen. Ein Hauch Kirsche habe ich ebenfalls. Eine der getrockneten hellen Früchte sticht hervor, Aprikose. Auch Malz kann ich wahrnehmen. Wow. Ein toller Whisky. Sehr vielschichtig und tief. Wahnsinn wie sich die Nase mit der Zeit verändert. Alles ist harmonisch und gesetzt. Wirklich lecker. Fehlnoten habe ich keine. | 90 Punkte
A beautiful Glenfarclas, round, mild, sweet and beautifully balanced. No sherry bomb, but still very sherry-fruity. I like it very much, but on the whole it does not get close to many of the Family Casks, even though it does get into this price range.
| Нос |
87 |
Sweet, rather light sherry fruits, cloudy apple juice, raisins, sweet pastries, walnut crisp, spicy notes, but otherwise no oak. Occasionally a slight sulfur breath, but does not bother. After the first sip I also find marzipan and again the light sulfur breath. |
| Вкус |
89 |
Wonderfully sweet, creamy, but also a bit peppery and quite voluminous. Honey, toffee, nutcrackette again, latte macchiato, subtle oak spice, a little baking cocoa, caramelized sugar and now also orange peel, maybe also chocolate ginger. Very pleasant to drink. Amazingly soft for the age. |
| Финиш |
86 |
Medium long, creamy, cocoa, again latte macchiato, nuts, walnut and again the orange pulp. |
нос 90 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
The magic of refill wood? This Glenfarclas delivers elegance on the nose, but the palate and finish are more typical of slightly exhausted casks. Overall a pleasant malt, that is too expensive for its inner values however and merely survives due to collectability.
| Нос |
90 |
Sherbety sweet marzipan, mixed with mild mint chocolate and forest honey. With some air there is peach and whiffs of juicy oranges. Fruit at last? No. Polished hard wood, vanilla sauce, and malty undertones. Quite nice! Probably refill wood, no? |
| Вкус |
88 |
Juicy-sweet arrival, with tons of sweet caramel and raisins. Immediatelly after the spiciness builds up. The tannins are strong, with eucalyptus and touches of licorice. Banana, almond puree, and more vanilla yoghurt. More conventionell, but still rather tasty! |
| Финиш |
85 |
Medium. Artificially sweetened and aromatized rooibos, more mint chocolate and walnut skins. |
нос 89 · вкус 90 · финиш 90
Spicy, with caramel, honey, and some dried fruits that are rather light and fresh. Plenty of oak, which adds a certain sharpness. A touch of milk chocolate, and then it's gone. A caramel sweetness with a slight bitterness (walnut shells) remains in the mouth. In the end, this is an example of how the wood can be well integrated despite long aging (thanks to the refill). Very round and enjoyable. Delicious.
it comes along like some of the 21 editions before, cannot really recall which ones. nothing really special. for collectors a mandatory buy, i am going to sit this one out.
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
My best ever glenfarclas ... nice complex but still easy
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 90
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
| Нос |
86 |
Peach, cereals, lemons, mint, little typical sherry notes |
| Вкус |
85 |
spicy, amazingly little oak, cereal, mango, passion fruit and pineapple. Add some vanilla and hazelnuts |
| Финиш |
86 |
very long and persistent |
нос 89 · вкус 91 · финиш 89