Glenfarclas 105

Whiskey: Glenfarclas 105

Region: Speyside

ABV: 60.0%

Price: £54

For our next review we have Glenfarclas, a Speyside heavyweight. If you’re unaware, 105 is a non age statement, cask strength, core range release. While it’s Non Age Statement, the internet suggests this has been aged for a minimum of 8 years.

Nose

Musty richness, like you’re standing beside a rack of oloroso sherry casks in a Glenfarclas warehouse. Sweet dark sugars, toffee and caramel that’s gone slightly too far and charred a little. There’s also a spicy woodiness that exists throughout. Maybe some grappa-esque aromas too.

Palate

Instant alcohol/spice one-two punch, gingerbread, raisins, general sweet sherry notes that you’d get in most sherry matured whiskies, this is babies first cask strength sherried whisky. Finish is medium length, a bit flat though.

Nose (with water)

Some citrus notes appear - almost like roasted orange segments. Dark chocolate appears, some light coffee notes and malt loaf.

Palate (with water)

The oiliness starts to coat the mouth more than before, bitter oak, grapefruit, chocolate orange, a little ground ginger spice.

Conclusion

This is exactly what you’d expect from a sherried whisky, but lacks the complexity of what you get with some higher priced Glenfarclas expressions. We do appreciate the cask strength ABV, however it may be a bit too high and could be dialled down by a few % which may help people who are just getting into these higher strength spirits. Given how cheap it is compared to other CS releases this is an easy 7/10.

Score: 7/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Glenfarclas 105? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.