After a long streak of single casks and fringe OBs reviewed by me, we finally get to a staple age-stated OB: the Glenfarclas 15. Regarded as the sweet spot in the lineup, the 15yo is bottled at 46%, unlike its older and younger stablemates at 43%. It is NCF and NCA as well. I like, but have never loved heavy sherrying, so it would be interesting to see where this stands.

Distillery: Glenfarclas

Region: Highland

Price: 70USD

Cask Type: Ex-sherry (refill?)

ABV: 46%

Chill-filtered: No

Color: 1.0, deep gold.

Rested for about 20 minutes, before savoured slowly, neat in a glencairn.

Nose: Unmistakable essence of chicken comes first and lingers, probably a manifestation of sherry funk. Usual sherried date pudding notes, cocoa powder, cinnamon, orange zest.

Palate: I like it, medium texture, cocoa, dried plums, cranberries, roasted almonds, chocolate-coated macademia nuts, lemon curd.

Finish: Malt, pears, hazelnut, more macademia nut, apple pie filling, blackcurrant, then brown rice and a very prominent yeasty note that reminds me of rice yoghurt. Some other notes I read said rum and raisin. I do find it after reading it, because I didn't make the connection previously, but priming is a real possibility.

Conclusion: Straightforward. No esoteric notes like minerals or herbs. Just a moderately-sherried OB done well. I liked this a lot more than I thought it would. It needs some air as it starts of spirity and astringent notes. Then you get rewarded with a very flavourful whisky with sour and sweet, fruity brightness and mellower flavours balanced well. A very good OB I recommend. It is up there with the likes of Craigellachie 13 and Hazelburn 10 for me. I think it makes a good foil for the Hazelburn especially, since the latter is ex-bourbon and has very prominent tropical fruit notes rather than dark fruit notes. If I were to nitpick, complexity and depth is there, but it is a a bit wanting in intensity on the palate. Definitely looking out for the 105, or the 100 proof 15yo, or even... dare I dream of the Family Casks?

If it were named by the SMWS: Poultry in Motion

Score: 88

H.Y.