...where distraction is the main attraction.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Glenfarclas Faultline Casks for K&L Wine Merchants

Officially, this K&L Wine Merchants exclusive has no age statement and is not a single cask. Unofficially, it's a from a trio of (1st fill sherry) casks approximately nine years of age. It's exactly 57%abv, so it might be cask strength. I think the price started at $100 and was later lowered to $85, so it was ultimately in line with the US price of the regular NAS 105 bottling. It sold out 3 or 4 years ago and there aren't many reviews of it online.

Those are just bits of info that don't actually add up to anything. I must drink this now.

Distillery: Glenfarclas
Ownership: J&G Grant
Region: Speyside (Central)
Age: approximately 9 years old
Maturation: three first-fill sherry casks
Exclusive to: K&L Wine Merchants
Alcohol by Volume: 57%
Chillfiltered? No
Colored? No
(Thank you to Saint Brett for the sample!)

NEAT
Lots of dense dried fruits from the sherry cask meet up with saline, brine and mushrooms in the whisky's nose. Anise, almond butter, pound cake and newspaper print notes follow. Lots of cask action on the palate as well. Spicy cigars, dried cherries and salty toffee. Tart limes, mild sweetness and a tannic hint rest in the background. A simple balance of tart berry sweetness and lemon tartness continues lingers through the finish, as does the salty toffee note.

DILUTED TO ~46%abv, or 1½ tsp of water per 30mL whisky
It's a different whisky now. There are roasted nuts and grains in the nose, as well as charred marshmallows and graham crackers (almost s'mores!), a pinch of wood spice and a dunnage whiff. Marshmallows, toffee, lime juice, dried cranberries and baking chocolate in the palate. It finishes tart and peppery with a little bit of sweetness.

WORDS WORDS WORDS
If only Glenfarclas could massively upscale this recipe, it would be a great replacement for the NAS 105. It's good young sherry cask stuff. I enjoyed the nose's darker notes, and found the palate to be very easy drinkin' both neat and diluted. It's nice to have a positive surprise once in a while. Tomorrow we'll see how this youngling fared next to one of Glenfarclas's Family Casks.

Availability - Sold out
Pricing - $85-$100
Rating - 86