Glenfarclas 50 Year Old Bot.2019

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old

• Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 40.6%

Firstly, Having spent five decades in sherry casks, this venerable Glenfarclas single malt has now come to rest in Glencairn Crystal decanters, each of which is hand-decorated in copper and comes with a heavy copper stopper.

Moreover, Each decanter sits inside a gift box made of red mahogany, which is finished in the high quality gloss used on pianos. The box’s colour, appropriate to a sherrie whisky, is designe to reflect the ‘autumnal hues of Speyside’ where the distillery is based.

Further, This one was for Taiwan, and scored high silver at the Malt Maniacs Awards that year. Colour: light coffee. Right, office coffee. Nose: this one’s a little rounder, more fudge-y, with more cappuccino, Bailey’s (I know, I know), butterscotch, chocolate cake (brownies), coffee… And once again I’m finding quite some pencil shavings. Less brandy-like, less armagnacqy. With water: wee touches of gunpowder and stewed Jerusalem artichokes. Glenfarclas 50 Year Old Bot.2019

Hay, earth… Mouth (neat): it’s one of these heavily sherrie whiskies that feel a little bourbony because of the very active oak. Ginger, pepper, orange zests, even vanilla cake… But above all that, there are bags of raisins. With water: coffee-schnapps! Hoppla! Finish: quite long, with some Kahlua and some a feeling of Spanish brandy. From Jerez, no need to say. Spicier aftertaste. Comments: I thought the 1991 was a little more complex and a little more ‘classic’, but this 2001 is excellent too.