Glenfarclas Private Reserve 46th Anniversary Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

The Glenfarclas Winter Warmer.
(French Exclusive release)

Sort of a private selection bottling, produced as a nod to 46 years of collaboration between Glenfarclas and the historic Bordeaux negociant, Mähler-Besse, - hence the prominence of 46° in the presentation is a double entendre. Released in April 2022 with an outturn of 9999 bottles, compared with the relatively genteel character of the 17YO, 18YO, or even 21YO, this contemporary expression has a bolder, more spicy aroma and flavour that, conversely, lends itself to being consumed with minimal water. At a guess, it's 10-12 year old malt and both the colour and flavour suggest some active sherry casks are in the mix. A keynote is ginger (think ginger ale or ginger beer, almost as though a splash is in the whisky itself); a touch of youthful grassiness comes through too, but the sweetness of the malt makes it palatable uncut, followed by a brief burst of fruit cake and dark chocolate, eclipsed by a rush of gingery heat and drying oak at the finish. The palate may not be especially complex or long, but Glenfarclas 46% does deliver an alternative distillery expression that promises to keep loyal fans entertained (and warm) through winter. French exclusive. Natural colour. 46% Alc./Vol.

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: rich, intense. The first nose is elegant with subtle notes of coffee, caramel and candied fruit (apricot, mango). Allowed to breathe, it gains in complexity and opens up with flavours of dark chocolate and red fruits (cherry, raspberry) mixed with malty notes. Palate: unctuous, precise. The attack on the palate immediately highlights gourmet notes of heather honey, praline (hazelnut, almond) and white fruit (quince, peach). In the mid-palate, malted barley, dried fruit and vanilla compete in intensity. Finish: long, finely spiced.

Other reviews... Nose: Getting lots of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, marzipan, cherry, plumb and oak. Less fruity than the regular GF 15 YO (Also 46% ABV). But I like both for what they are. Taste: Creamy thick, malty a little honey sweet and more fruity than on the nose, with some apricot and forest fruits. Finish: The taste stays with you for some time without changing the initial aromas and flavours. - whiskybase.com