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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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September 21, 2022 |
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Because after all, winter is near… These will be the first Glenfarclas we'll try after the extremely talented, friendly and abnormally engaging George Grant has left the company, earlier this year. We deeply hope he'll be back, because, well, because whisky is about people way before anything else! |
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| The author with George Grant in front of the Maniac Mobile, 2005 |
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Glenfarclas 10 yo 2011/2021 'Empress of Australia' (53.9%, TWCC, PX sherry, 324 bottles) 
I'm not sure the label actually says 'Glenfarclas', but let's remember that the stunning board/tasting room at the Distillery has its walls adorned with old wood panels that had been dismounted from the ocean liner named 'Empress of Australia' indeed. Colour: deep gold. Nose: sometimes PX works. Yes, Serge speaking. Indeed this is full of sultanas and dried figs, chestnut purée, rum baba, milk chocolate, hazelnut liqueur, not to forget our beloved amlou (1/3 argan oil, 1/3 crushed almonds, 1/3 Atlas honey). Some rancio too. Perfect nose this far, no deviant leafiness or rubber whatsoever. With water: awesome, sweet and rounded but not dull at all, a little close to good cognac, or perhaps that bottled sin (when it's good) called pineau des Charentes. Mouth (neat): absolutely excellent, round, luscious, all on raisins, rum and Sauternes at first, then with some healthy spiced honeys. Heather honey for sure, once more. With water: fruitcake etcetera. Angelica. Finish: medium, clean and sweet, and full of raisins and other dried fruits. The usual figs, for example. Pepper and clove in the aftertaste. Comments: what a lovely young drop! I've heard some good bodegas were making some bone-dry macerated PX these days, I need to try that!
SGP:651 - 88 points. |
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Glenfarclas 10 yo 2011/2021 (59.8%, OB, Family Casks, for LMDW 65th Anniversary, sherry hogshead, cask #1173, 304 bottles)
I'm sorry, but does the name 'Family Cask' remain valid if George has left? Anyway, if La Maison have selected such a young drop to celebrate their 65th anniversary, there must be a reason, let's try to find it. Colour: deep red amber. Nose: sometimes, rich young sherry monsters may start like bourbon, in this case with rather a lot of varnish and acetone, over a nicely caramelised pecan pie straight from the oven. And then it's cake after cake, kougelhopf, tarte tatin, panettone… Well we're almost over the moon about this young beauty that, what's more, feels unexpectedly 'craft'. With water: seriously, I doubt you could do much better in Speyside, at this young age. Probably buries most neighbours… Mouth (neat): perfect, if a little brutal and a little too much on cherries and strawberries because of the very high strength. And on Texas-style sweet and smoked barbecue sauce. There, let's add water… With water: toffee, chocolate, marmalade, raisins and coffee, the holy pentangle of sherried Speyside whisky. We'll now sip this away while listening to Jacqui Mcshee's Pentangle, if you don't mind… Finish: long and more on raisins, fig arrack, dried jujubes and litchees… The aftertaste is very chocolatey again, with even a little smoke. Comments: as good as it gets at ten years old.
SGP:652 - 89 points. |
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