Glenfarclas 50 Year Old Crystal Decanter TWE Exclusive

Tasting Notes by Tim F

• N

  Wow - where to start? Marmalade initially, then sugared almonds, church pew, leather and burnt wood. Constantly evolving - we find hot-buttered toast, fruitcake, golden syrup, prune, sweetpea, grapefruit and a faint hint of cocoa - chocolate orange, perhaps. An absolutely bewitching nose that offers something new on every sniff. Incredible depth and balance.

• P

  Toasted oak, plenty of citrus (orange and grapefruit again), legumes, a healthy dash of pepper, syrup, honeyed oats, satsuma peel, brown sugar and some quite herby touches - but the main thrust is maltiness of amazing elegance and purity, perfectly counterpointing the fine-grained oak tannins.

• F

  A long, warm, slow fade of perfectly-integrated malt, wood and pepper. The complexity is breath-taking.

• C

  A captivating dram that makes you fall head over heels in love with whisky all over again. This is single malt whisky of the kind that could only have come from a refill sherry cask of the most stupendous quality. Adding water would be sacrilege when a malt wears its strength so lightly. Be brave and take it as nature intended.