Glenfarclas 2004 11 YO The Family Casks - Special Release
Glenfarclas 2004 11 YO The Family Casks - Special Release, 60,4 %
Today I am reviewing a relatively young whisky in the great bottling series The Family Casks from Speyside distillery Glenfarclas. The Glenfarclas 2004 11 YO The Family Casks - Special Release was distilled in 2004, and matured in a 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt (cask #2623). It was then bottled on 2015-09-08, with a total outturn of 683 bottles.
You can still buy this whisky online at around € 135.
Nose: Warm and comforting, with deep sherry notes. This would be a very nice whisky to enjoy during the cold Winter nights. Apricots, raisins, red berries, vanilla, baked apples with just a tiny sprinkling of cinnamon.
Taste: Rich, full and warm mouthfeel. This whisky is big, in body and flavor. Fruity sweetness, honey, strawberries, cinnamon (cinnamon sticks, actually), white pepper and soft oakiness. A metallic note lingering in the back.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Still very fruity and with massive sherry notes. The sweetness does fade away somewhat, and it appears drier and more metallic. I am thinking wet rocks, and an iron two-handed sword in the rain... It is not bloody, mind you.
Comments: One of the youngest Family Casks releases I have tried, but a wonderful example of the high quality you find in this series of bottlings from Glenfarclas.
Score (87/100)
Sláinte! - Thomas