Bourbon Cask Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas is one of the most beloved single malts out there, known for its rich sherry notes, but what does it taste like underneath all of that sherry? There's not much chance to find out, since nearly all Glenfarclas is either entirely sherry matured or a blend of mostly sherry matured whisky. For that reason, I was excited to taste an old, independently bottled Glenfarclas aged solely in a bourbon cask. This one came to me a few years ago from the Cadenhead shop so it's probably no longer readily attainable.

Glenfarclas 33 year old (Cadenhead's Chairman's Stock) distilled 1973, bottled 2006, 42.6% abv. ($260).

The nose on this is astounding. There are huge fruit notes with malt and vanilla in the background, and it all comes together so well. After the fruity nose, the palate is surprisingly dry and spicy with lots of earth notes. The finish is earthy in an almost Cognac like way with a slight bitterness in that style.

This is really fantastic stuff. Clearly, the quality of Glenfarclas isn't just about the sherry. The whiskey itself can be magnificent even absent the sherry's influence. I wonder if the distillery would consider releasing more of its own bourbon casks. Whether they do or not, Glenfarclas seems to be great in any cask.

Glenfarclas 1990 from K&L

This was a 2014 release from K&L composed of a vatting of two first fill Oloroso sherry casks.

Glenfarclas 1990, 24 years old, 50% abv ($170)

The nose has bright fruit and sherry notes with a touch of sulfur. The palate starts with a moderately sweet sherry note; as with the nose, there is very light sulfur and milk chocolate in the late palate. The finish is sweet and fruity on the nose but dry on the palate with some nice spice on the palate.

This stuff is great, balanced and drinkable as hell. I wouldn't call it a sherry monster, but it's one of those malts I just find myself reaching for over and over. If you're a sherry fan and certainly if you're a Glenfarclas fan, I'd definitely recommend it.

The Good Stuff Continued: Glenfarclas 40

Glenfarclas is an independent Speyside distillery known for its heavily sherried malt whisky. Last year, they made a big splash by introducing a 40 year old. Most 40 year olds released by distilleries are put into hand blown bottles encased in specially carved boxes made out of antique wood made by forest gnomes. Glenfarclas put their 40 year old in a regular bottle encased in a typical cardboard tube and priced it such that you could get it for around $470 retail. Now, that may seem like a lot of money for a bottle of whisky (and indeed, it is), but it is nowhere near what you will pay for other distillery produced 40 year olds. For instance, Highland Park 40 and Glenfiddich 40 both go for around $2,000. And Bowmore 40? That will cost you $11,000. So in the world of extravagantly priced whiskies, the Glenfarclas 40 is a true bargain.

Glenfarclas 40 year old , 46% abv($470)

The nose on this is really wonderful. It starts with Welch's grape juice and then moves into more classically sherried territory with raisins, but it's also got tropical fruit, some maple syrup and vanilla extract. I could smell it all day. The palate starts with vanilla candy and follows up with soft sherried notes, ending on a slightly bitter note. While it's very nice, the palate is not as interesting as the nose. It feels a bit hotter than 46%. Water brings out some nice woody notes that give it a savory flavor. The finish is sherry and vanilla with maybe a bit of creamsicle.

For being so old, this is incredibly drinkable. It's very well balanced, sherried without being a real sherry bomb. If this were an average priced whisky, it would be something I would want to drink every day. Given the price, that's simply not possible. Still, the Glenfarclas 40 is awfully fun to drink, and the more I drink it, the more I like it.