GlenfarclasHighland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Aged 12 Years
43% ABV (86 proof)
~$50 (sample provided)
Color: gold - pretty much exactly the same as the 10 year.
Smell: very pleasant, and slightly more robust than the 10 year. I get malty cereal grains, almonds, and a bittersweet combination of lemon peels and raisins. Nice.
Taste: at first, much sweeter on the palate than the nose suggests. It's honey, sweet raisins, and nougat upfront (creamy mouthfeel) with some grain influence to boot, and then the midpalate brings in more of the lemons and bitter almonds. The finish is longer than the 10 year, and more tannic. The wood influence is a nice balance point to the raisiny sweetness, and dries you out for the next sip.Overall: there is more to this expression than the 10 year (which itself is not bad). I'm not sure if it's the extra 2 years aging or the extra 3% alcohol, but the 12 year Glenfarclas offers up more flavor without sacrificing drinkability. Very nice, "B+" for me.
