It’s just a bit unfortunate that one of the last family-owned Scottish distilleries, run in the 5th and 6th generation, now also jumped on the “fairly high-priced special release NAS” bandwagon.

Facts

Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d Family Reserve

Nose

Is this really a Glenfarclas? Let me double check the label… yep, this is indeed a Glenfarclas. Plum jam on freshly toasted white bread and cookie dough. Then lots fruits like Granny Smith apples, oranges and lemon peels. Strawberry toffees and mirabelle liqueur, joined by hints of vanilla.

Taste

Surprisingly dry and by far not as fruity as the nose promised. Orange peels, nougat with cinnamon, hints of floral honey and a big chunk of walnut pie. Also a bit peppery now. Gets pretty bitter and oaky towards the end.

Finish

Medium and slightly bitter. Nuts, apples and hints of bitter chocolate.

Overall

Not bad, just a very unusual Glenfarclas and completely different from what I expected. I’m not the biggest fan of this style, but maybe this is how Glenfarclas was like back in 1865?

Score: 83 / 100

But now it is time for the Glenfarclas 1980 Christmas Single Malt Port Pipe Edition. It was distilled on Christmas Eve in 1980 (hence the name) but it is not completely clear when it was bottled. The label says 17.12.2014 but that does not match with the code printed on the bottle (19.02.2015). So who knows when it was actually bottled, although that doesn’t really matter that much.

Facts

Glenfarclas 1980 Christmas Single Malt Port Pipe Edition

Nose

Needs its time in the glass because the aromas are so tight-knit at first. But with some time it becomes very fruity. Plums, ripe pears, oranges, red fruits and honeydew. Apples roasted over beech wood fire. Honey wine. Hints of eucalyptus and herbals – maybe thyme? The port is present but not overpowering.

Taste

Full-bodied. Again very fruity with a sweet touch. Cherries. Plums. Nicely balanced by some spiciness. White pepper. Nutmeg. Cinnamon.

Finish

Rather long. Dried apple rings. Ginger. Herbs. Hints of smoke.

Overall

Another highly pleasant, this time more fruitier port matured Glenfarclas. It could be a bit more refined on the palate, but this is nitpicking. Very good and very rewarding

Score: 92 /100

Sample provided by Thorsten Jung (spiritscorner.eu)

Facts

Glenfarclas 1981 Port Pipes Edition

Nose

At first it is really hard to differentiate the aromas because they are so interwoven. This single malt needs its time in the glass. But the waiting is indeed rewarded with a stunning variety of multi-layered aromas. Herb and eucalyptus candies. Followed by dried fruits and raisin liqueur. Some subtle honey sweetness a little more in the back. Furthermore a bit of oak and finely chopped hazelnuts. The port wine is present but not overpowering.

Taste

Ripe red fruits. Hints of spicy oak, without any bitterness. Gets a bit sourish. Lemons and limes. A slight tingling on the tongue. Then more sweeter again with Limonchello.

Finish

Medium and very balanced. Traces of oak followed by a touch of menthol.

Overall

It doesn’t have always to be sherry! No doubt, Glenfarclas also knows how to make port matured whisky. A highly pleasant and harmonic single malt with the right amount of complexity. Extraordinarily good!

Score: 93 / 100