Glenfarclas 105 cask stength, recent 2010's (right) and 1990's (left) bottlings. For my birthday a few days ago, the barkeep at my favorite whisky bar in Busan treated me to his favorite whisky and wanted to show me how older bottles compared (which seemed to be the theme that night). Tried the 2010's bottling first and it was just a below average sherry cask (Glendronach core is slightly better). Then tried the 1990's version of the same product and boy was it totally better!!! The difference was huge in all facets!!! I didn't take notes for this tasting, but the 1990's bottling tasted more like a real sweet sherry bomb while the 2010's bottling was more of sherry + lots of water. Cask strength at 105 "Scottish proof" didn't really seem to affect me for some reason... ?!?!
I've noticed the same phenomena with JW Blue Label, Red Label as well (but not the Yamazakis and Macallans...) where older bottlings were noticeably different and better tasting than their modern brethren. And especially Costco Blue Label and duty free blue label... blind taste tested (horizontal and vertical) some friends in LA and strangely everyone said Costco Blue Label was the least favorable (next to red). Even the Chinese aunties that drank blue label ever since it came out note older Blue Labels were the best and that Costco Blue Label is for recycled gifting only. I however, do not practice Blue Label discrimination.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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