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