Glenfarclas 25 Years Review

“Woody Woodpecker”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland/Speyside

Brand: Glenfarclas

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 25 Years

ABV:  43 %

Sample Provided by Derek from the USA. Many Thanks!

Colour: Amber

Nose: Quite restrained actually for a 25 Year old Single Malt. Nice combination of Fruit, Sherry and Oak. I find Tangerine, Apricot, Apple and a very distinct note of English Marmalade. I also get some Flowers/Heather/Herbs, Honey, Hazelnut Paste (Nutella), Pears in Heavy Syrup, Cocoa, light Vanilla, Lemon Zest, Dark Chocolate, Malt and a little Cinnamon. The Alcohol is there but it's sufficiently integrated. It's not a truly spectacular Nose but it is very pleasant and invites you to take a sip.

Palate: Much more Oak than I would have expected after Nosing. A bit too much if you ask me! It's almost like a Cognac. I also find Cocoa Powder, Dried Fruits and Hazelnuts, light Sherry, Buttered Toast, Orange Marmalade, Toffee, Citrus, light Pepper, Nutmeg and Cloves.  

Finish: Quite Long, Oaky and lightly Bitter-Sweet with Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Honey, Malt, Sugared Almonds, Buttered Toast, Orange Marmalade and light Spices (Nutmeg and Cloves).

I added some Water and I find some nice extra Dark Chocolate tones on the Nose. But Palate and Finish do not benefit from the added Water.

Rating: 86

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21- Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Glenfarclas Distillery was founded in 1836 and has been in the hands of the Grant family for around 150 years now, a rare fact in the Whisky Industry. It is located in Ballindalloch (Banffshire). The 25 Years is part of the Core Range of this Distillery together with the 10, 12, 15, 21, 30 and 40 Years. It sells at around 180 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The 25 Years is a nice Single Malt, especially on the Nose. But it's also quite expensive given the fact that it's not that different from the 15 and 17 years except that you get a lot more Oak. And I'm not sure that's a good thing. If you like Sherry & Wood or Cognac, this might just be the Single Malt you like. I liked the tasting experience but I would not spend 180 US Dollars on a full bottle.

Jan van den Ende                                                                 March 13, 2014

Caol Ila 2007 DLE Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 2007 Distillery Limited Edition (Bottled for the Feis Ile Festival)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 58.4 %

Date: 09/03/2014

Sample provided by Marlie from The Netherlands. Many Thanks!

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Young, Nervous and Laphroaigish. I might have invented a new word here! Lots of Phenols, Ashes, Tar, Rubber, Smoke, Coal, Sweet Coastal Peat, Brine, Leather, Raw Meat, Shellfish sprinkled with Lemon, Muenster Cheese, Oak, Sour Grapefruit Juice, very Light Sherry and Toast with Salted Butter. This Caol Ila could do with a bit more Fruit on the Nose. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.

Palate: Still Rough and Edgy but with more Fruit now, mainly Apples and Mango. I also find Peat, Coal, Tar, Charred Driftwood, Shellfish sprinkled with Lemon, Salt, White Pepper, Crispy Bacon Chips, Iodine and light Vanilla.

Finish: Quite Long and Sweet with Peat, Smoke, Ashes, Tar, Juicy Apples, Salt, White Pepper, Lemon Zest, Oak, Menthol and light Licorice.     

With a little Water the Nose becomes more Gentle. But you also take out the main Islay characteristics. It's almost like you travel from the Seashore to the Farm. I get Straw, Wet Leather and Vegetable Peat. On the Palate, Fruit and Peat are reinforced while Pepper and Menthol start to rule the Finish. You can certainly experiment with a little Water here.

Rating: 86

Nose: 21 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: The Caol Ila I am reviewing today was bottled especially for the 2007 Feis Ile Ferstival on Islay and was sold exclusively at the Distillery. Only 2000 Bottles were commercialised. This Single Malt matured in both Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry Casks. It is Non Chill-filtered and bottled at Cask Strength. It won't be easy to find a bottle but the price would be around 160 US Dollars.

Caol Ila (Gaelic for Sound of Islay or Islay Strait) is located on the Strait that separates Islay and Jura. The Distillery was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. After changing hands many times, the Distillery now belongs to the Diageo Group. Caol Ila supplies lots of Malt Whisky to known Blends like Johnnie Walker and Black Bottle

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Certainly an interesting Caol Ila. It's quite young and edgy and resembles a young Laphroaig. On the Nose I miss Fruity tones. The way it is, the "Dirty" Islay tones are a bit too dominant. I like the Palate although it's quite strong and might scare off the beginning Whisky drinker. I can see myself happily dramming this Caol Ila after a long walk on a cold and windy Islay. If anything, the White Pepper notes are a bit overdone. On the positive side I really liked the Charred Driftwood, Shell Fish and Bacon Chips. Decent Finish. I don't think I would want to spend 160 Dollars on this Caol Isla but I did enjoy tasting the sample that Marlie kindly provided. 

Jan van den Ende                                                             March 2014