Glenfarclas 105 CS Best Shot Whisky Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland/Speyside 

Brand: Glenfarclas 105 CS

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 60 %

Colour: Dark (Reddish) Gold

Nose: Full and Complex. With an ABV of 60% this dram needs lots of time to open up. The first clear impressions are Sweet Oloroso Sherry, light - and acceptable Sulphur, (Hazel) Nuts, Grains, Wood (Pencil Shavings), Brown Sugar, Caramel and Fruits like Plums, Peach and Tangerines. It's a complex Nose but there's Alcohol to deal with of course. So take your time to nose the 105. After a while you get hints of Leather, Honey, Coffee, Mashed Ripe Bananas, Straw, Sweet Port Wine, Chocolate, Rum and Vanilla. Pinch of Salt. This is still a rather young whisky and the Oak is in balance with the Spirit. There is a light Vegetable-like flavour component that bothers me a bit. Can't quite pin it down but it's something like Cabbage or Carrots. Quite a complex Nose but a bit heavy and not entirely to my liking.

Taste: Quite Hot and Spicy with Pepper, Malt, Oloroso Sherry, Wood, Ginger, Aniseed, Tobacco, Marzipan, Rum, Cloves, Citrus, Salty Earth, Wet Leafs, Hazelnuts, Caramel and Coffee.

Finish: Very Dry with Black Pepper, Orange Liqueur, Sherry, Marzipan, Nuts, Cinnamon and (Milk) Chocolate. After five minutes or so my mind is telling me I ate Popcorn and urges me to take another sip of the 105. Quite remarkable!

I added a spoonful of Water. As the Alcohol is toned down, the Nose has an easier time in showing its (Distillery) Character of Fruit, Grain and Blossom with a pinch of Salt. Some Toast with Honey and/or Orange Marmalade as well. And the off-note almost disappears. Still, I get more flavour details while sipping it neat. I certainly advise you to experiment with still water here. Palate and Finish are better enjoyed neat. 

Rating: 85.5  

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21  - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Glenfarclas 105 is bottled at an even 60% after blending batches of mature barrels without adding water. The 105 is NAS but matured for 8-10 years according to the producers. It was first released in 1968. The Glenfarclas Distillery is owned by the Grant Family since 1865. The 105 CS is sold at around 75 US Dollars. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Not an easy one to judge. On the one hand it's a very interesting dram. A complex nose with lots of stuff to discover. I could have lived without the Vegetable off-note though. On the Palate the spirit is quite warming with lots of Spices and impressions of Marzipan soaked in Rum. The Finish is middle-long and interesting enough and the Popcorn effect brought a smile to my face. And if you like a heavy sherried Speysider you should certainly try it out some time. Still, I'm glad I only bought a miniature and a sample. I wouldn't like the idea of having to work myself through a full bottle of the 105. It's one thing to enjoy this dram occasionally, maybe paired with some fine chocolate. But I can't see myself sipping this on a regular basis. It's a bit heavy (handed) and almost too serious despite its relative young age!

Jan van den Ende                                                               January 22, 2013