"105 Cask Strength"
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
60% ABV (120 proof)
~$85 (sample provided)
Interesting beast here. No age statement and - unlike, say, Wild Turkey 101 - the "105" isn't the proof...it's actually 120!
Color: medium gold...similar to the other offerings in the Glenfarclas lineup
Smell: bigger on the nose than its brethren, with a great depth of flavors. Floral honey sweetness is matched by hazelnuts and some oxidized wine notes that bring in a slightly bitter component. It's very interesting to smell - there's also something musty about it that I can't place, as well as a bit of lemon peel.
Taste: quite sweet upfront before the alcohol heat kicks in. Roasted cereal grains and honey at the fore, and then the midpalate brings in big waves of nuts and oak spice. The finish features a warming alcohol punch and a parting note of lemon peel and oxidized wine, as well as lingering cheek-puckering bitterness (in a good way).Overall: I like this quite a bit - it's right up there with the Glenfarclas 12 for me at a "B+," although quite a different drinking experience. This is a bruiser, and with its high proof point and outsized oak influence, it drinks almost like a bourbon. After diluting with water, things mellow considerably. While the nose remains impressive, the palate becomes too muted - watery, honeyed grainy sweetness. Stick with it at full proof, and bring your big-boy pants.
