You won’t find the Glenfarclas 18 Year Old on the website: it is a tax-free expression (hence 1 litre bottle) that sits alongside the 17 Year Old which is part of the core range.
Glenfarclas 18 yo
(43%, OB +/- 2017, 1 litre)
Glenfarclas 18 yoNose: quite fresh and almost fragrant, a focus on American oak? Scented wax candles. Coconut flakes and overripe fruits, peaches mainly. Hints of cinnamon and sawdust. Marzipan. Heather honey.
Mouth: oily, malty (muesli, bread) and spicy, with hints of fruit tea. Pears, oranges a little mango perhaps. Then on to dark chocolate, pepper, a little ginger and citrus zest. Aniseed. Quite some oak involved, with light tannins. Almonds and other nutty notes in the end.
Finish: quite long, on the dry side, with herbal notes, white pepper and some bread crust.
I think this one is a bit of an outsider in the core range, with its fresh, fragrant side. It’s a bit lightweight perhaps and the oak is strong. Maybe not for everyone, but I think it’s good value for money. Around € 60 in travel retail, closer to € 80 from Master of Malt or TWE for instance.
Score: 84/100